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    Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore. 1. Key parameters impacting on Cu recovery during column bioleaching

    133605_133605.pdf (296.6Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Watling, Helen
    Elliot, A.
    Maley, Mark
    Van Bronswijk, Wilhelm
    Hunter, C.
    Date
    2009
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Watling, H.R. and Elliot, A.D. and Maley, M. and Van Bronswijk, W. and Hunter, C. 2009. Leaching of a low-grade, copper-nickel sulfide ore. 1. Key parameters impacting on Cu recovery during column bioleaching. Hydrometallurgy. 97 (3-4): pp. 204-212.
    Source Title
    Hydrometallurgy
    DOI
    10.1016/j.hydromet.2009.03.006
    ISSN
    0304386X
    Faculty
    Faculty of Health Sciences
    School of Public Health
    School
    Department of Chemistry
    Remarks

    The link to the journal’s home page is: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/503336/description#description. Copyright © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38664
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    This study was prompted by the disparate recoveries of nickel (>70%) and copper (<20%) from a test heap of copper-nickel sulfide ore after about 200 days of leaching. Variables tested in bioleaching columns charged with a pyrrhotite-rich, chalcopyrite and pentlandite ore were acid pre-conditioning, inoculation and aeration. The results indicated that the rapid reaction of pyrrhotite with acid created conditions that impacted directly and/or indirectly on copper recovery. Important reactions were hydrogen sulfide formation, high soluble iron concentrations and the formation of large amounts of elemental sulfur. It was hypothesized that copper loss, evidenced by copper re-distribution during passage through the ore, was mainly the result of reaction with hydrogen sulfide to form covellite, although this could not be confirmed by XRD analysis of leached residues. A layer of iron-oxy-hydroxy-sulfate 'scale' on particle surfaces encapsulated sulfide grains as well as elemental sulfur formed by the oxidation of pyrrhotite and was of sufficient depth and integrity to have hindered but not prevented leaching and bioleaching. Lack of aeration (oxygen, carbon dioxide) impacted on ferrous ion biooxidation and probably sulfur biooxidation. More extensive sulfur biooxidation to form acid might have lowered the solution pH and reduced the amount of scale formation, resulting in higher ferric ion concentrations and better chalcopyrite oxidation.

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