Leach-solvent extraction-electrowinning

Kordosky, G. A. (2002) Copper recovery using leach/solvent extraction/electrowinning technology forty years of innovation, 2.2 million tonnes of copper annually, in International Solvent Extraction Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, Mar. 17-21, 2002. 

Since the mid-1960s, solvent extraction has been applied on a commercial scale to the recovery of copper from aqueous solutions obtained from the leaching of acid-soluble copper ores with dilute sulfuric acid. At present, several plants producing up to 200 t of copper per day by an integrated leach—solvent extraction—electrowinning route are in operation throughout the world. 

Davis, J.R. (ed.) (2001) ASM specialty Handbook. Coptper and Copper Alloys. ASM, Materials Park, OH. Gerald, V.,J. (ed.) (1999) Copper Leaching, Solvent Extraction Electrowinning Technology. Society for Mining Metallurgy Exploration, Littleton, CO. 

The application of solvent extraction to copper recovery has been a major growth area since the last review of this series.11,13 Almost 30% of world production in 2000 involved the use of sulfuric acid heap leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning, far exceeding earlier predictions.136... 

Figure 5 A simplified flowsheet and materials balance for the recovery of copper from oxidic and transition ores by heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning.

Cymet (1) [Cyprus Metallurgical] A process for extracting copper from sulfide ores. It involves leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning. Developed by the Cyprus Metallurgical Processes Corporation, Golden, CO. Superseded by Cymet (2). 

BioNIC [Biological NICkel] A biological process for leaching nickel from its ores. It comprises bacterial leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning. Developed by BHP Billiton at Yabulu from 1999, but not commercialized by 2004 because no ore body of a suitable concentration and size had been identified. 

Fig. 18 General flowsheet of copper leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning process. 

Processes that use chloride leaching, solvent extraction to sulfate solution, and electrowinning from sulfate solution. 

Cobalt is produced as a coproduct of nickel or copper refining. Copper-cobalt sulfide concentrates can be processed by the RLE process. Mixed cobalt-nickel sulfides can be precipitated from ammoniacal leach solutions and as mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide or carbonate from acid sulfate leach processes. From chloride leach solutions, cobalt can be separated by solvent extraction. Most cobalt production is associated with nickel production from sulfide and laterite ores. Pressure leaching, solvent extraction followed by the electrowinning of... 

The British company Reunion Mining Pic (RM) performed a techno-economical feasibility study for the Skorpion mine (Namibia) during 1S 7 and 1998. At that time, RM entered in contact with the R D Division of Tunicas Reunidas S.A. (TR). The objective was to apply the modified ZINCEX process (MZP) to the treatment of Skorpion ore to produce SHG zinc. One of the most important stages of the feasibility study was the piloting of key sections of the process namely, leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning. 

Solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) is a hydrometallurgical process involving three fundamental steps ore leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning. The first step consists of leaching the copper ore with a weak acidic solution, which, typically, is sulfuric acid. 

FIGURE 5.3 Contribution of SX/EW to world copper production. (From Wallis, T. L. and Chlumsky, G. F. 1999. In Copper leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning technology, Littleton, CO Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. With permission.)... 

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