Statistical Modeling of NaCl and FeSO4 Pretreatment Effect on Refractory Copper Ore Leaching
Source abstract
Abstract
Black copper oxides, a significant copper resource, present challenges in leaching due to their refractory nature and complex mineralogical composition. This study investigates the sulfation dynamics of the reductive leaching process of black copper ores with the purpose of increasing the copper leaching, focusing on the influences of time and the addition of NaCl and FeSO4 on sulfation behavior. Experiments were designed to replicate industrial conditions using oxidized minerals from the Codelco Salvador hydrometallurgy plant. Multivariate nonlinear regression models and response surface methodology were employed to analyze sulfation behavior. The findings demonstrate that analytical acid consumption (AAC) exerts a consistently positive and statistically significant effect on sulfation across the sampled domain, while NaCl and FeSO₄ also influence the process. However, variations in their levels showed limited impact. Time was significant only within the 24–48 h range. The optimized model predicted maximum sulfation at 60 h with 60% AAC, 90 g NaCl, and 42 g FeSO₄, with strong alignment between the observed and predicted values. These insights emphasize the importance of pretreatment methods, including sulfuric acid curing and NaCl addition, in improving leaching efficiency.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Metal Extraction and Bioleaching · Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques · Extraction and Separation Processes
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Departamento de Ingeniería en Metalurgia, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó 1531772, Chile
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, Chile
Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Procesos de Minerales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, Chile
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