| ArticleName |
Combined electrochemical sulfidization of refractory oxidized
copper ores |
| Abstract |
This study summarizes the research results for electrochemical preparation for flotation of refractory oxidized copper ore from the Udokan deposit, containing only 0.5 % total copper by weight, with 90 % in the form of oxidized minerals. The electrolytic preparation method involves targeted conversion of chrysocolla, a refractory copper mineral, into a form that can be more easily separated by flotation. The research uses the established cathodic electrochemical reduction mechanisms for both chrysocolla and sodium sulfite under controlled electrochemical conditions to facilitate the preliminary electrochemical sulfidization of oxidized copper ores prior to flotation. The electrochemical preparation was carried out in a specially designed electrolyzer, where the oxidized copper ore slurry, combined with a sulfuric acid electrolyte, was loaded into the cathode space and subjected to electrolysis under intensive stirring. The slurry was then fed into a laboratory flotation machine. During cathodic polarization, the oxidized mineral surfaces are partially dissolved, exposing the copper. This is followed by copper reduction to an elemental state: when copper ions reach the cathode, they are transformed into solid copper metal, which then deposits onto the cathode surface. Concurrently, sulfite ions are reduced to elemental sulfur at the cathode. Due to their chemical affinity, the copper and sulfur chemically bond to form copper sulfide, a compound that is more easily recovered through flotation. A mathematical model was developed to predict copper recovery, indicating that a high recovery of 95.0 % can be achieved in the presence of a sodium sulfite sulfidizer. According to the calculations, under optimal conditions of electrochemical sulfidization of oxidized copper ore, copper recovery into concentrate can reach 95.4 %, surpassing the performance of direct flotation by 50 %.
This research was conducted under targeted funding contract IRN No. BR23991563 concluded between the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Zh. Abishev Chemical and Metallurgical Institute.
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