The microwave irradiation effect on copper leaching from sulfide/oxide ores

ABSTRACT

Increasing the rate and ultimate copper recovery from low-grade copper sources may be the most important problem affecting the economy of copper mining. This present research work is a study on microwave-irradiation application for copper recovery from two main types of copper ores (i.e., oxide and sulfide) was investigated. The results of rolling bottle tests showed that H₂SO₄ consumptions were lower in the pretreated ores in comparison with the conventional leaching tests. Leaching tests in shaking flasks by using the two types of ores showed a significant increase (up to 26% in some cases) in copper recoveries from pretreated ores. Main effective parameters such as irradiation power, ore states in the microwave chamber, and irradiation times were completely studied. To explain the behavior according to the enhanced copper recoveries, some possible mechanisms were discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Copper
• extraction
• irradiation
• leaching
• microwave
• ore
• oxide
• sulfide