Selective dissolution of chalcopyrite in chloride media

Dissolution study of chalcopyrite has been carried in chloride media using oxygen gas as oxidant. Various parameters such as temperature of leaching, acid and additive concentration were studied to optimize the dissolution process. Metal recovery without oxygen was found poor. Iron dissolution increases with increase in both temperature and hydrochloric acid concentration and reverse trend was observed for copper. A maximum of 00% iron dissolution was achieved in 4 h under the conditions: [HCl]-3 N, PD-10%, Temp.-363 K and O₂ flow rate - 300 mL/min. It was also observed that copper dissolution is decreased with increase in sodium chloride concentration. With the addition of 10% (w/v) sodium chloride about 75% of iron could be selectively dissolve without any dissolution of copper. The copper rich residue can be re-dissolve easily with chlorine gas at a moderate leaching condition to get leach solution containing low iron from which pure copper could be easily recovered.