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ABSTRACT
The present study aims at assessing the potential application of CuPRO MEX-3302 in copper extraction from a heap leaching liquor. The role of influential significant parameters, including the leachate pH (0.1–2.7), CuPRO MEX-3302 concentration (5–15% (v/v)), temperature (25–70 °C), copper initial concentration (0.5 to 2.3 g/L) and extraction time (0–5 min), were investigated. The extraction efficiency at ambient temperature, 1:1 organic/aqueous phase ratio, 5% (v/v) extractant concentration, pH of about 2 and contact time of 30 min was found to be 95% with a value of Fe and Mn of less than 2%. Meanwhile, a two-step extraction process was dedicated on the basis of the McCabe-Thiele diagram to obtain an organic phase containing 2.9 g/L copper at pH of 2.1. Equilibrium analyses confirmed the association of 4 mol of CuPRO MEX-3302 per mole of extracted copper. The thermodynamic outcomes revealed a high affinity of the extractant together with an endothermic and spontaneous nature of copper extraction in the system studied. Moreover, the reaction kinetics showed that the reaction order of H+ and CuPRO MEX-3302 concentration was −0.54 and 0.50, respectively. Finally, a two-stage counter-current stripping simulation at Vo/Va = 1:1 with 180 g/L H2SO4 resulted in a copper stripping efficiency of 99.54%.
Acknowledgements
We are truly grateful to Zagros Mes Sazan Co. for providing the samples and facilities used in this research work. Additionally, we would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their insightful remarks, constructive comments, and fruitful criticisms.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Correction Statement
This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.