English Testing of the optimum extragent for solvent-extraction of Almaly deposit copper

Abstract

For the solvent extraction of copper from pregnant leach solutions, (PLS) a wide range of modern extractants is currently offered on the market, and its choice is a very important issue in the production of copper using the SX-EW (Solvent Extraction and Electrowinning) technology. The purpose of this work was to determine the optimal copper extractant for processing productive solutions of the Almaly deposit using the SX-EW. The studies were carried out with a productive solution obtained by leaching copper ores from the Almaly deposit of composition, g/dm3: 1) Cu– 0.262, Fe–17.97, SiO2–0.36. The results of copper extraction from model solutions showed that the maximum extraction of copper (94%) is observed when using the extractant 5% Acorga 5640, while the other extractants did not provide a high degree of extraction of 10% Lix984 - 93%; 10% Acorga 5640 - 91%; 10% Acorga 5910 and 10% Acorga 5747 - 85% each. According to the results of the retraction process, a high degree of copper extraction from the organic phase (90.2 and more) was ensured when using extractants of 5% Acorga 5640, 10% Lix984, and 10% Acorga 5640, the minimum - at 10% Acorga 5910 (88.2%). For the extraction of copper from the productive solution of the Almaly deposit 5% Acorga 5640 was chosen as the optimal extractant.