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Recent Trends in the Processing of Enargite Concentrates
Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review
  • M. Sadegh Safarzadeh
  • Michael S. Moats, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Jan D. Miller
Abstract

The copper industry is witnessing great interest in the development and utilization of copper-arsenic deposits. While most plants tend to use traditional processing technologies, the depletion of conventional copper ores has created competition for designing and implementing new process alternatives for the treatment of copper-arsenic ores containing minerals such as enargite, luzonite, and tennantite. Nevertheless, the downstream processing of high-arsenic copper concentrates represents a significant metallurgical challenge in terms of both arsenic separation and also its stabilization in an environmentally benign form that fulfills the current and future environmental policies. Smelters are subject to penalties on high arsenic-bearing copper concentrates. While reductive roasting can drive-off the arsenic from enargite concentrates to an acceptable level suitable for smelting ( < 0.5 wt.%), this option has generally been viewed as unacceptable due to environmental conflicts and the lack of a market for arsenic trioxide. The lack of a suitable pyrometallurgical option has led to several proposed hydrometallurgical treatments of enargite concentrates. Hydrometallurgical options include either selective arsenic dissolution to produce a clean copper concentrate or collective leaching of copper and arsenic. Both options with various conditions and lixiviants are discussed and evaluated. In this review, alkaline sulfide leach (ASL), sulfate-and chloride-based leach systems, high temperature pressure oxidation (HTPOX), sodium hypochlorite leach, bio-leach/oxidation, nitrogen species catalyzed pressure oxidation, Cominco Engineering Services Limited, Intec, HydroCopper™ and Fluobor® processes are outlined. Pyrometallurgical process strategies have also been briefly reviewed. Among all processing options, ASL, HTPOX, Fluobor® and reductive roasting processes are given special attention with specific flowsheets for enargite concentrates discussed.

Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • Arsenic,
  • Enargite,
  • Hydrometallurgy,
  • Leaching,
  • Pyrometallurgy,
  • Stabilization
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2014 Taylor & Francis Inc., All rights reserved.
Publication Date
5-1-2014
Publication Date
01 May 2014
Citation Information
M. Sadegh Safarzadeh, Michael S. Moats and Jan D. Miller. "Recent Trends in the Processing of Enargite Concentrates" Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review Vol. 35 Iss. 5 (2014) p. 283 - 367 ISSN: 0882-7508; 1547-7401
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael-moats/57/