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Formation of Phase Transition During the Dissolution of Silicate and Carbonate Chalcopyrite in Acidic Ferric Sulfate

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Abstract

In this investigation, two ore bodies (silicate and carbonate), carefully sized, containing chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) were assessed for their Cu dissolution in acidic ferric sulfate (H2SO4-Fe2(SO4)3) at various pH (1.0, 1.5 and 1.8) and temperature (25 and 50 °C) under atmospheric pressure. Experiments were conducted with a size fraction of 53 + 38 for 12 h at a constant pulp density of 10% solids. The maximum Cu recovery of 70 and 58% was obtained in less than 2 h at pH 1.8 and 50 °C from silicate and carbonate chalcopyrite, respectively. The XRD analyses results of the residues indicated that copper dissolution from its CuFeS2 mineral proceeded through the formation of transient phases, dependent upon the media pH value. Cu2S was the major intermediate phase at pH1.0, while Cu5FeS4 was the major phase at both pH 1.5 and 1.8. It was further observed that mineralogical composition plays a vital role during Cu dissolution. The thermodynamic modeling predicted the sequential formation of CuFeS2 → Cu5FeS4 → Cu2S → CuS in which soluble intermediates were Cu5FeS4 and Cu2S, while CuS was identified as the end-transitory metastable, and main thermodynamically refractory phase, supporting its cumulating behavior throughout the dissolution. The obtained results suggest that the formation of CuS and excessive gypsum could contribute to the passive film formed during CuFeS2 leaching.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful the local South African mining company which participated in this research by providing the samples, the extraction metallurgy laboratory at the University of Johannesburg for equipment utilization, the North-West University and the University of South Africa for the support and promotion of this research.

Funding

This study was funded by the North-West University (IREA Account).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Pollution Monitoring and Remediation Initiatives Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Kolela J. Nyembwe & Frans Waanders

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, College of Science Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Elvis Fosso-Kankeu

  3. Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Canada

    Martin Mkandawire

  4. Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS), College of Science Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Bhekie B. Mamba

Authors
  1. Kolela J. Nyembwe
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  2. Elvis Fosso-Kankeu
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  3. Frans Waanders
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  4. Martin Mkandawire
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elvis Fosso-Kankeu.

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Conflict of interest

Author MM is indebted to funding through NSERC-DG, CFI, Public Works and Government Service Canada (formally Devco arm of ECBC), the Industrial Research Chair of Mine Water Management at CBU, ACOA and IRAP grants.

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Nyembwe, K.J., Fosso-Kankeu, E., Waanders, F. et al. Formation of Phase Transition During the Dissolution of Silicate and Carbonate Chalcopyrite in Acidic Ferric Sulfate. Trans Indian Inst Met 75, 1767–1779 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-022-02546-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-022-02546-0

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