Chalcopyrite leaching in a dimethyl sulphoxide solution containing copper chloride

A study has been carried out on the use of a dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) solution containing copper chloride (CuCl2) in the leaching of chalcopyrite. Experiments were conducted at temperatures from 313 to 413 K and the effects of time and temperature investigated. It was found that copper extraction increased as temperature increased up to 373 K, but then decreased with increasing temperature. When leaching for four hours at 373 K, 94.1% of Cu was extracted along with 46.3% of Fe, 47.8 mmol of S, and 75% of Au. Around 83% of the As remained in the residue. It is concluded that that the DMSO solution could selectively dissolve copper and gold from chalcopyrite while leaving minerals with little economic value, such as pyrite, and the penalty element arsenic in the residues. The extraction of Cu in a given period of time was shown to be faster than that of conventional methods.
A study has been carried out on the use of a dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) solution containing copper chloride (CuCl2) in the leaching of chalcopyrite. Experiments were conducted at temperatures from 313 to 413 K and the effects of time and temperature investigated. It was found that copper extraction increased as temperature increased up to 373 K, but then decreased with increasing temperature. When leaching for four hours at 373 K, 94.1% of Cu was extracted along with 46.3% of Fe, 47.8 mmol of S, and 75% of Au. Around 83% of the As remained in the residue. It is concluded that that the DMSO solution could selectively dissolve copper and gold from chalcopyrite while leaving minerals with little economic value, such as pyrite, and the penalty element arsenic in the residues. The extraction of Cu in a given period of time was shown to be faster than that of conventional methods.