Enhancement of chalcopyrite leaching by ferrous ions in acidic ferric sulfate solutions

Naoki Hiroyoshi, Hajime Miki, Tsuyoshi Hirajima, Masami Tsunekawa

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163 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of ferrous ions on chalcopyrite oxidation with ferric ions in 0.1 mol dm-3 sulfuric acid solutions were investigated by leaching experiments at 303 K in nitrogen. With high cupric ion concentrations, the chalcopyrite oxidation was enhanced by high concentrations of ferrous ions and copper extraction was mainly controlled by the concentration ratio of ferrous to ferric ions or the redox potential of solutions. Ferrous ions, however, suppressed the chalcopyrite oxidation when cupric ion concentrations were low. A reaction model, which involves chalcopyrite reduction to intermediate Cu2S by ferrous ions and oxidation of the Cu2S by ferric ions, was proposed to interpret the results.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)185-197
Number of pages13
JournalHydrometallurgy
Volume60
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2001
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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