Hydrometallurgy in Kghm Polska Miedz SA – Circumstances, Needs and Perspectives of Application

Abstract

Systematically shrinking copper resources and remarkably declining copper ores grade leads to the growing role of hydrometallurgical processes in manufacturing copper and accompanying metals. Technical, economical, and ecological aspects of application of hydrometallurgy were discussed with regard to dominating smelting methods. Specific conditions of in the Polish copper industry were evaluated and important aspects of necessary application of hydrometallurgy at KGHM for more effective processing of copper ores and concentrates were indicated. The hydrometallurgical unit operations compulsory in unique conditions of Polish copper industry: high content of carbonates, decreasing content of Cu, and increasing content of Pb, As, and organic carbon were analyzed. Hydrometallurgy was recognized as the only real chance for more rational utilization of metal resources from the Polish copper deposits. The advantageous chemical and mineralogical composition of Polish copper ores and concentrates and easy access to sulphuric acid additionally substantiate the need for comprehensive research work.

Keywords:

• copper metallurgy
• leaching technologies
• polish copper ores

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was carried out in the frame of HYDRO project (Polish NCBiR project contract ZBP/56/66309/IT2/10). The author acknowledges the financial support given to this project by the NCBiR (National Center for Research and Development) under the IniTech Enterprise. I also wish to thank my various partners of the project for their contributions to the work reported in this paper.

Notes

Presented as plenary lecture during Separation Science – Theory and Practice 2011 Conference, Kudowa Zdrój, Poland, June 5-9, 2011