Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching
The conditions under which copper was retained and re-distributed in a test heap of pyrrhotite-rich, copper-nickel sulfide ore were investigated in abiotic column leaching tests. It was determined that acidity plays a key role in maximising copper recovery. During passage through the ore bed, when t...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier Science BV
2009
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47214 |
| _version_ | 1848757772947030016 |
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| author | Maley, Mark Van Bronswijk, Wilhelm Watling, H. |
| author_facet | Maley, Mark Van Bronswijk, Wilhelm Watling, H. |
| author_sort | Maley, Mark |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The conditions under which copper was retained and re-distributed in a test heap of pyrrhotite-rich, copper-nickel sulfide ore were investigated in abiotic column leaching tests. It was determined that acidity plays a key role in maximising copper recovery. During passage through the ore bed, when the leachate pH rose to >2.3, copper ions previously released to solution through the oxidation of chalcopyrite were retained by adsorption on, or reaction with, ore minerals. Lack of aeration (limited oxygen) had only a small impact on copper recovery, in association with a favourable pH environment. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed. The results indicated the need for careful acid management in the operation of heaps of pyrrhotite-rich ores such as complex copper-nickel sulfide ores. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:33:25Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-47214 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:33:25Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Elsevier Science BV |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-472142017-09-13T15:58:41Z Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching Maley, Mark Van Bronswijk, Wilhelm Watling, H. Pyrrhotite Leaching Pentlandite Chalcopyrite The conditions under which copper was retained and re-distributed in a test heap of pyrrhotite-rich, copper-nickel sulfide ore were investigated in abiotic column leaching tests. It was determined that acidity plays a key role in maximising copper recovery. During passage through the ore bed, when the leachate pH rose to >2.3, copper ions previously released to solution through the oxidation of chalcopyrite were retained by adsorption on, or reaction with, ore minerals. Lack of aeration (limited oxygen) had only a small impact on copper recovery, in association with a favourable pH environment. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed. The results indicated the need for careful acid management in the operation of heaps of pyrrhotite-rich ores such as complex copper-nickel sulfide ores. 2009 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47214 10.1016/j.hydromet.2009.03.016 Elsevier Science BV fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Pyrrhotite Leaching Pentlandite Chalcopyrite Maley, Mark Van Bronswijk, Wilhelm Watling, H. Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| title | Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| title_full | Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| title_fullStr | Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| title_short | Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. Impact of aeration and pH on Cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| title_sort | leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore: 2. impact of aeration and ph on cu recovery during abiotic leaching |
| topic | Pyrrhotite Leaching Pentlandite Chalcopyrite |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47214 |