Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Kinetic Study of Copper and Cobalt Dissolution from Sulfidic Ores in Sulfate–chloride Media

  • Published:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the operating parameters that affect the kinetic dissolution of copper and cobalt from sulfidic ores. The sulfuric acid concentration, temperature, sodium chloride concentration, particle size range, and leaching time were selected to deduce the kinetic mechanism of the leaching reaction. Other parameters, such as a stirring speed of 250 rpm and the percentage solid 10% w/v, remained constant. The results reveal that an increase in acid concentration enhances the leaching rate of copper and cobalt. Copper and cobalt dissolution was positively affected by the addition of sodium chloride. The highest leaching rates of copper and cobalt were 24.71% and 15.65%, respectively. The chemical control and diffusion control by shrinking core models are well fitted as the kinetic models representing the dissolution of the minerals. The respective activation energies for copper and cobalt dissolution of 10.92 and 31.023 kJ mol−1 for the chemical control and 18.83 and 37.28 kJ mol−1 for diffusion reaction control were established from temperature-based experiments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nosrati A, Quast K, Xu D, Skinner W, Robinson DJ, Addai-Mensah J (2014) Agglomeration and column leaching behaviour of nickel laterite ores: effect of ore mineralogy and particle size distribution. Hydrometallurgy 146:29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2014.03.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Altinkaya P, Liipo J, Kolehmainen E, Haapalainen M, Leikola M, Lundström M (2019) Leaching of trace amounts of metals from flotation tailings in cupric chloride solutions. Mining Metall Explor 36:335–342

    Google Scholar 

  3. Skrobian M, Havlik T, Ukasik M (2005) Effect of NaCl concentration and particle size on chalcopyrite leaching in cupric chloride solution. Hydrometallurgy 77(1–2):109–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2004.10.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Khoshkhoo M (2014) Chalcopyrite dissolution in sulphate-based leaching and bioleaching systems. Doctoral thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet.

  5. Zhong S, Li Y (2019) An improved understanding of chalcopyrite leaching kinetics and mechanisms in the presence of NaCl. J Mater Res Technol 8(4):3487–3494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2019.06.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Veloso TC, Peixoto JJM, Pereira MS, Leao VA (2016) Kinetics of chalcopyrite leaching in either ferric sulphate or cupric sulphate media in the presence of NaCl. Int J Miner Process 148:147–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2016.01.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Winand R, Berger JM (1984) Solubilities, densities and electrical conductivities of aqueous copper (I) and copper (II) chlorides in solutions containing other chlorides such iron, zinc, sodium and hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen Chlorides 12:61–81

    Google Scholar 

  8. Winand R (1991) Chloride hydrometallurgy. Hydrometallurgy 27(3):285–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Herreros O, Viñals J (2007) Leaching of sulfide copper ore in a NaCl–H2SO4–O2 media with acid pre-treatment. Hydrometallurgy 89(3–4):260–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2007.07.011

  10. Deniz Turan M, Boyrazlı M, Soner Altundoğan H (2018) Improving of copper extraction from chalcopyrite by using NaCl. J Cent South Univ 25(1):21–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-018-3713-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ruiz MC, Montes KS, Padilla R (2011) Chalcopyrite leaching in sulfate-chloride media at ambient pressure. Hydrometallurgy 109(1–2):37–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2011.05.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Quezada V, Roca A, Benavente O, Cruells M, Melo E, Hernández M (2021) Pretreatment to leaching for a primary copper sulphide ore in chloride media. Metals 11(8):1260. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11081260

  13. Watling HR (2014) Chalcopyrite hydrometallurgy at atmospheric pressure: 2. Review of acidic chloride process options. Hydrometallurgy 146:96–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2014.03.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Baba AA et al (2012) A review on novel techniques for chalcopyrite ore processing. Int J Min Eng Miner Process 1(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.mining.20120101.01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Salinas KE, Herreros O, Torres CM (2018) Leaching of primary copper sulfide ore in chloride-ferrous media. Minerals 8(8):1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/min8080312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lu ZY, Jeffrey MI, Lawson F (2000) An electrochemical study of the effect of chloride ions on the dissolution of chalcopyrite in acidic solutions. Hydrometallurgy 56:145–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lu ZY, Jeffrey MI, Lawson F (2000) The effect of chloride ions on the dissolution of chalcopyrite in acidic solutions. Hydrometallurgy 56:189–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Velásquez Yévenes L (2009) The kinetics of the dissolution of chalcopyrite in chloride media. March, p. 290. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/475

  19. Velásquez-Yévenes L, Nicol M, Miki H (2010) The dissolution of chalcopyrite in chloride solutions: Part 1. The effect of solution potential Hydrometallurgy 103(1–4):108–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2010.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Velásquez-Yévenes L, Torres D, Toro N (2018) Leaching of chalcopyrite ore agglomerated with high chloride concentration and high curing periods. Hydrometallurgy 181:215–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.10.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Carneiro MFC, Leão VA (2007) The role of sodium chloride on surface properties of chalcopyrite leached with ferric sulphate. Hydrometallurgy 87(3–4):73–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2007.01.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Nasab MH, Noaparast M, Abdollahi H (2020) Dissolution optimization and kinetics of nickel and cobalt from iron-rich laterite ore, using sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure. Int J Chem Kinet 52:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/kin.21349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu W et al (2015) Selective leaching of cobalt and iron from cobalt white alloy in sulfuric acid solution with catalyst. Int J Miner Process 141:8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2015.06.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Bayati B, Azizi A, Karamoozian M (2018) A comprehensive study of the leaching behavior and dissolution kinetics of copper oxide ore in sulfuric acid lixiviant. Trans C Chem Chem Eng 25:1412–1422. https://doi.org/10.24200/sci.2018.5226.1154

  25. Iler RK (1978) The chemistry of silica: solubility polymerization, colloid and surface properties, and biochemistry. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  26. Cerda CP, Taboada E, Jamett NE, aGhorbani Y, (2017) Effect of pretreatment on leaching primary copper sulfide in acid-chloride media. Minerals 8:1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/min8010001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Velásquez L, Miki H, Nicol M (2010) The dissolution of chalcopyrite in chloride solutions Part 2: effect of various parameters on the rate. Hydrometallurgy 103(1–4):80–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2010.03.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sokić MD, Marković B, Živković D (2009) Kinetics of chalcopyrite leaching by sodium nitrate in sulphuric acid. Hydrometallurgy 95(3–4):273–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2008.06.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Dreisinger D, Abed N (2002) A fundamental study of the reductive leaching of chalcopyrite using metallic iron part I: kinetic analysis. Hydrometallurgy 66:37–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Herreros O, Quiroz R, Longueira H, Fuentes G, Viñals J (2006) Leaching of djurleite in Cu2+/Cl− media. Hydrometallurgy 82(1–2):32–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2005.12.014

  31. Wadsworth ME, Sohn HY (eds) (1979) Rate processes of extractive metallurgy. Plenum Press

  32. Jeevaratnam EG (2001) An investigation into the ferric leaching of chalcopyrite - a sub-process in the bioleaching of chalcopyrite. University of Cape Town. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13957

  33. Li Y, Kawashima LJ, Chandra AP, Gerson AR (2013) A review of the structure, and fundamental mechanisms and kinetics of the leaching of chalcopyrite. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 197–198:1–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2013.03.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Levenspiel O (1972) Chemical reaction engineering. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  35. Mahyar S, Ghasemi S, Azizi A (2018) Alkaline leaching of lead and zinc by sodium hydroxide: kinetics modeling. Integr Med Res 7(2):118–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2017.03.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Shi G, Liao Y, Su B, Zhang Y, Wang W, Xi J (2020) Kinetics of copper extraction from copper smelting slag by pressure oxidative leaching with sulfuric acid. Sep Purif Technol 241(253):116699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.116699

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgy, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17911, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Kubangala Brest Kasongo, Ntumba Edward Malenga & Mamookho Elizabeth Makhatha

  2. Department of Metallurgy and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lubumbashi, Kassapa Campus, P.O. Box 1825, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

    Mbal Henock-Michel Mwanat

Authors
  1. Kubangala Brest Kasongo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mbal Henock-Michel Mwanat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ntumba Edward Malenga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mamookho Elizabeth Makhatha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kubangala Brest Kasongo or Mamookho Elizabeth Makhatha.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kasongo, K.B., Mwanat, M.HM., Malenga, N.E. et al. Kinetic Study of Copper and Cobalt Dissolution from Sulfidic Ores in Sulfate–chloride Media. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 39, 2209–2219 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00671-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00671-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation