SEPARATION OF COPPER AND ZINC FROM COMPLEX SULFATE-SOLUTIONS BY USINGLIX84

Background/purpose: For exploitation of the neglected/discarded lean g rade and complex deposits through the hydrometallurgical process,solve nt extraction is being widely used to separate and recover the metals from leach liquors. In order to study the separation of copper and zin c from sulphate solutions from such resources in the presence of gangu e metals like iron and manganese, LIX84 has been considered for utilis ation. Methods: Separation studies were carried out in a rectangular v essel of perspex with an impeller grooved at the bottom. The agitator speed of agitator was precisely controlled. The metal transfer from on e phase to another was known by analysing the strip solution from the organic phase, and sometimes the aqueous phase as well. Results: The p erformance of LIX84 was compared with that of LIX64N under identical c onditions for extraction-separation of Cu-Zn-Fe-Mn. In the acidic pH r ange of 0.7-3.9, LIX84 showed higher copper loading as compared to LIX 64N. Improvement in separation factor for Cu-Zn was observed with the former solvent in the above pH range. LIX84 also exhibited better sele ctivity for extraction of copper in the presence of iron and manganese levels of 0.21 and 1.0 g/l. Conclusion: LIX84 showed excellent extrac tion/and separation characteristics for the Cu-Zn sulphate system, and could be advantageously used for the treatment of such liquors produc ed from complex Cu-Zn-Pb sulphide ores. (C) Munksgaard, 1997.