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A comparative study of different leaching processes for the extraction of Cu, Ni and Co from a complex matte

  • Separation Technology, Thermodynamics
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Abstract

The extraction behaviors of Cu, Ni and Co from a complex matte under different leaching conditions have been discussed. The synthetic Cu-Ni-Co-Fe-S matte was prepared by melting the pure metals. The matte contained 24.95% Cu, 35.05% Ni, 4.05% Co, 11.45% Fe, 24.5% S, similar composition as is expected to be obtained by reduction smelting of the Pacific Ocean nodules followed by sulphidisation of the alloy. The different phases identified are CuFeS2, CuS2, (FeNi)9S8, (FeNi)S2, Ni9S8, Ni3S2, (CoFeNi)9S8 and Co metal. The merits and demerits of each process of dissolution i.e., H2SO4/oxygen pressure leaching, atmospheric FeCl3 leaching, NH4OH/(NH4)2SO4 pressure leaching are discussed in detail. Out of the three, the H2SO4/oxygen pressure leaching process is found to be the most suitable with more than 99% metal extraction efficiency within 1 h of leaching time. From the X-ray diffraction analysis, the different undissolved phases corresponding to different leaching processes have been identified. The metal extraction efficiency decreased in case of atmospheric FeCl3 leaching and NH4OH/(NH4)2SO4 pressure leaching processes due to the formation of product layer such as elemental sulfur and goethite, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Minerals and Materials Processing Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon, 305-350, Korea

    Kyung-Ho Park, Debasish Mohapatra, Chul-Woo Nam & Hong-In Kim

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  1. Kyung-Ho Park
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  2. Debasish Mohapatra
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  3. Chul-Woo Nam
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  4. Hong-In Kim
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Correspondence to Debasish Mohapatra.

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Park, KH., Mohapatra, D., Nam, CW. et al. A comparative study of different leaching processes for the extraction of Cu, Ni and Co from a complex matte. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 24, 835–842 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-007-0050-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-007-0050-6

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