Recovery of copper from oxide copper ore by flotation and leaching


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, Maden Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2014

Öğrenci: EMİRHAN KİRAZ

Danışman: MUSTAFA ÜMİT ATALAY

Özet:

The aim of this study was the recovery of copper from the oxide copper ore by froth flotation and agitating sulphuric acid (H2SO4) leaching. The ore with 4.21% copper grade used in this study was obtained from Çorum-Dangaz region of Turkey. Native copper, cuprite (Cu2O), tenorite (CuO), and malachite (Cu2(OH)2/CO3) were the main copper minerals in the test sample. Quartz, calcite, illite, chlorite, and plagioclase were determined as the main gangue minerals of the sample. The mesh of grind size of copper minerals was determined as 75 microns after examination of ground particles under microscope. During the flotation tests; the effects of type and dosage of collectors, pH, and dosage of activator Na2S were examined. Results of flotation tests were unsuccessful in terms of both recovery and grade of concentrate product. The highest copper recovery of concentrate was found as 61.35% with 8.69% copper content. The concentrate with highest copper grade of 34.65% was obtained with only 26.98% copper recovery. Unsuccessful flotation of the test sample was due to unfavorable morphologic properties of native copper particles. Agitating leaching experiments were also conducted with representative sample. The effects of various parameters, such as particle size, leaching duration, acid concentration, and pulp density on extraction of copper were examined. Agitating leaching test results were indicated that approximately 90% of copper extraction was possible. Three hours of leaching duration, 1 N sulphuric acid concentration and 100% -250 microns feed size were determined as optimum leaching conditions.