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Mechanochemical leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate by sulfuric acid

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Abstract

This study aimed to introduce a new cost-effective methodology for increasing the leaching efficiency of chalcopyrite concentrates at ambient temperature and pressure. Mechanical activation was employed during the leaching (mechanochemical leaching) of chalcopyrite concentrates in a sulfuric acid medium at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. High energy ball milling process was used during the leaching to provide the mechanochemical leaching condition, and atomic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used to determine the leaching behavior of chalcopyrite. Moreover, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the chalcopyrite powder before and after leaching. The results demonstrated that mechanochemical leaching was effective; the extraction of copper increased significantly and continuously. Although the leaching efficiency of chalcopyrite was very low at ambient temperature, the percentages of copper dissolved in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) after 20 h of mechanochemical leaching reached 28% and 33%, respectively. Given the efficiency of the developed method and the facts that it does not require the use of an autoclave and can be conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, it represents an economical and easy-to-use method for the leaching industry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Azadi Sq., Mashhad, P.O. Box 9177948974, Iran

    Farhad Khorramshahi Mohammadabad, Jalil Vahdati khaki & Abolfazl Babakhani

  2. Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Kargar Street, Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-515, Iran

    Sina Hejazi

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  1. Farhad Khorramshahi Mohammadabad
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  2. Sina Hejazi
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  3. Jalil Vahdati khaki
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Correspondence to Farhad Khorramshahi Mohammadabad.

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Mohammadabad, F.K., Hejazi, S., khaki, J.V. et al. Mechanochemical leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate by sulfuric acid. Int J Miner Metall Mater 23, 380–388 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-016-1247-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-016-1247-7

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