Investigation of the use of ammonium acetate as an alternative lixiviant in the leaching of malachite ore

Abstract

The solutions containing ammonia allow for selective leaching of the copper from a copper ore. In this study, the leaching and kinetics of malachite ore were examined using ammonium acetate solutions as an alternative lixiviant. The effects of some experimental parameters on the leaching of malachite ore were investigated. A kinetic model to represent the effects of these parameters on the leaching rate was developed. It was determined that the leaching rate increased with increasing solution concentration, temperature and stirring speed, and decreasing particle size and solid-to-liquid ratio. It was found that the leaching reaction followed the mixed kinetic control model. The activation energy of this leaching process was determined to be 59.6 kJmol-1. Consequently, it was determined that ammonium acetate solutions could be used as an effective leaching agent for the copper extraction form malachite ore.