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Hydrometallurgy Process for Copper Ore

Hydrometallurgy Process for Copper Ore

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Copper is the third most used metal in the world, and because of its physical and chemical properties such as high conductivity, corrosion resistance and excellent ductility, it is widely used in electric power, electric vehicles, telecommunications, computers, mobile phones, construction, transportation , industrial machinery and infrastructure and other industries, is the best material for the manufacture of electrical products. It is also often used in the manufacture of valves, connecting pipes for internal and external air conditioners, radiators and handicrafts. In addition, copper is used in the manufacture of fungicides and various chemical products.

Copper is essential to modern life and will be driven by rapid electrification and the growing availability of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar; copper plays a fundamental role in creating a sustainable low-carbon world.

Copper is a non-ferrous metal with a crustal abundance of 0.01%; the average minimum industrial recoverable grade of copper mines is 0.4%; after the copper ores mined from copper mines are flotation into copper concentrates, the copper grade can reach 24 %; After the copper concentrate is smelted and produced into anode copper, the copper content can reach 98%-99%; after the anode copper is electrolytically produced into cathode copper, the copper content can reach more than 99.95%.

Why choose hydrometallurgy for copper ore

Pyrochemical treatment of copper sulfide ore has the advantages of high productivity, low energy consumption, and is beneficial to the recovery of gold and silver. But now there are two problems, the first is the resources, and the second is the air pollution.

1. Resource issues: Copper sulfide ore is the main raw material for pyrometallurgy at present, but the mining grade is getting lower and lower; therefore, low-grade sulfide ore, compound ore, oxide ore and tailings will become the main resources for copper smelting in the future. And this kind of ore cannot be directly treated by pyrometallurgy.

2. Air pollution issues: As long as sulfide ore is used as raw material for pyrometallurgy, sulfur dioxide will pollute the atmosphere to varying degrees.

Based on the above two reasons, the copper ore hydrometallurgical process has been greatly developed in recent years as it has been chosen by more and more people.

Advantages of copper ore hydrometallurgical process

As an effective way to solve the problem of metal mineral resources utilization, hydrometallurgy process is more suitable for the recovery and utilization of low-grade mineral resources.

  • 01The significant advantage of hydrometallurgy process is the high recovery rate of valuable metals in raw materials;
  • 02The production process is easier to realize automation and continuity, so it is more suitable for the recycling of low-grade mineral resources;
  • 03The production line has strong process flexibility;
  • 04The comprehensive recovery rate of associated components is good.

Process flow of copper ore hydrometallurgy

  • Copper Oxide

  • Copper sulfide

01Crushing, grinding process

Crushing and grinding are the primary technological processes of copper ore hydrometallurgy. After being crushed, the raw ore enters the ball mill for grinding at a controllable speed, and finally reaches the qualified particle size before entering the next production process. In hydrometallurgy, a certain amount of water needs to be added to the mill to maintain the density of the mill.

02Leaching process(Stirring leaching\heap leaching)

Leaching is to select a suitable solvent to selectively dissolve valuable metal elements or harmful impurities in ores, concentrates or smelting intermediate products, and transfer them into the solution to achieve the purpose of separating valuable elements from harmful impurities or gangues . In addition to ores and concentrates, the leaching materials may also be residues after smelting, anode slime, waste alloys, etc.

Raw ores and concentrates are usually composed of a variety of minerals, the composition is very complex, and valuable elements often exist in the form of compounds such as oxides, sulfides, arsenides, carbonates, sulfates, and phosphates. It also exists in the form of metals, such as gold, silver, natural copper and so on. The appropriate solvent and leaching method must be selected according to the characteristics of the raw material.

03Purification of leaching liquor process
(extraction, stripping)

The purification of the leaching liquor is the process of separating the target metal from the impurities in the solution and removing the harmful impurities in the leaching liquor. During the leaching process of raw ore or concentrate, when the target metal is transferred from the raw material to the solution, certain impurities will also enter the solution.

In order to facilitate precipitation and extraction of the metal of interest, impurities must be removed prior to precipitation to obtain a solution as pure as possible. The purification of leaching liquor is relative. The impurity metals separated by purification are often important raw materials to be recovered as valuable semi-products.

04Extraction of metals from solution (Electrowinning)

The process of separating and recovering the metal materials contained in the aqueous solution through the conversion of the metal state from the solution is one of the important steps of hydrometallurgy.

The copper hydrometallurgy process uses electrowinning, which refers to the process of depositing or precipitating substances on electrodes. When the current passes through the electrolyte solution, the copper ions on the electrode can be reduced to copper and deposited on the electrode.

05Finished product (copper cathode)

The cathode copper produced by the extraction-electrowinning method has a product quality that exceeds that of the cathode copper produced by the smelting-refining method, and reaches or exceeds the national standard for No. 1 cathode copper.

01Crushing, grinding ,Flotation process

Crushing, grinding and flotation are the main process flows of hydrometallurgy of sulfide copper ore. After the raw ore is crushed, it enters the ball mill for grinding at a controllable speed. After reaching the qualified particle size, it enters the flotation to select the copper concentrate and enter the next process.

02Acidification roasting

In the roasting furnace, copper concentrate is converted into copper slag by chemical reaction with oxygen through precise temperature control.

03Acid leaching

Acid leaching: Copper concentrate has transformed into loose copper slag rich in copper oxide. The acid leaching process is the core link to convert this "high-temperature achievement" into a copper ion solution that can be directly extracted. Through the directional reaction between acid and copper slag, copper is efficiently dissolved from the solid lattice, providing pure raw materials for subsequent purification and electrolysis. It is a key step in hydrometallurgy that "builds on the past and opens up the future".

04Solid-Liquid Separation

After the leached slurry enters the purification process, the filter residue is washed and stored, and the filtrate enters the next stage to prepare for the deep purification of copper.

05Purification of leaching liquor process
(extraction, stripping)

The purification of the leaching liquor is the process of separating the target metal from the impurities in the solution and removing the harmful impurities in the leaching liquor. During the leaching process of raw ore or concentrate, when the target metal is transferred from the raw material to the solution, certain impurities will also enter the solution.

In order to facilitate precipitation and extraction of the metal of interest, impurities must be removed prior to precipitation to obtain a solution as pure as possible. The purification of leaching liquor is relative. The impurity metals separated by purification are often important raw materials to be recovered as valuable semi-products.

06Extraction of metals from solution (Electrowinning)

The process of separating and recovering the metal materials contained in the aqueous solution through the conversion of the metal state from the solution is one of the important steps of hydrometallurgy.

The copper hydrometallurgy process uses electrowinning, which refers to the process of depositing or precipitating substances on electrodes. When the current passes through the electrolyte solution, the copper ions on the electrode can be reduced to copper and deposited on the electrode.

07Finished product (copper cathode)

The cathode copper produced by the extraction-electrowinning method has a product quality that exceeds that of the cathode copper produced by the smelting-refining method, and reaches or exceeds the national standard for No. 1 cathode copper.

Why Choose Mecru

Henan Mecru Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd. is located in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, which is divided into office area and factory area, covers an area of 35,000 square meters, including more than 30,000 square meters of factory area. The company has more than 200 employees. Mecru Heavy Industry Technology Co.,LTD. is a manufacturer and specialized in research, production, and sales of intelligent crushing and screening plant. As a promoter of the sand and gravel aggregate processing and mineral materials processing industries, MECRU is making efforts to provide customers with the best technology, equipment and services.

MECRU with its products and services of high quality and differentiation to achieve immortality, and to promote the process of enterprise brand promotion. Staff to good conduct for development, the pursuit of better quality is our unremitting efforts to the goal.

MECRU has a perfect pre-sale, sale, after-sales service, is committed to providing excellent service for customers. From international trade marketing and promotion to international trade negotiations, and to technical service and after-sales support, MECRU has gradually established its own trade service system, serving many countries and regions at home and abroad.

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