Abstract
Oxidative leaching, as a basic step of the hydrometallurgical process of pure copper production from chalcopyrite, is a slow process in which mineral acids with strong oxidants addition are usually used as a leaching medium. It was found experimentally that the copper leaching from chalcopyrite in the H(2)SO(4)-H(2)O(2)-H(2)O system, in the presence of isopropanol (IPA) and under other conditions (H(2)O(2) concentration, rate of mixing and temperature), takes place with satisfactory rate and efficiency. To quantify how much the change of these crucial variables affects the rate of the process, experimentally obtained kinetic curves (conversion over time) were analyzed using a Shrinking Core Model (SCM). The determined values of the copper leaching rate constants (k(obs)) confirmed the positive influence of increasing IPA and H(2)O(2) concentrations as well as the temperature on the kinetics and efficiency of the leaching. The kinetic studies were also supported by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and adsorption measurements. The positive influence of IPA was explained by its stabilizing role for iron compounds (hematite, magnetite, and pyrite), which are catalysts during the Cu dissolution, as well as H(2)O(2) protection from decomposition during free radical reactions. Finally, the optimal conditions for efficient leaching, the rate-limiting step as well as the mechanism suggestion of the copper dissolution, were given.