Investigation on solvometallurgical processes for extraction of metals from sulfides
Résumé
Copper, nickel, iron, zinc, lead, and molybdenum are among the important metals commonly found as sulfide
minerals in nature. Some of these metals are also found as sulfides in intermediate products like matte and mixed
sulfide precipitates (MSP). The extraction processes of these metals from their sulfide forms through either
pyrometallurgy or hydrometallurgy encounter various challenges. This study aimed to explore the viability of
solvometallurgical processes (solvoleaching) as potential alternatives for the extraction of these metals from their
sulfides (CuS, Ni3S2, FeS, ZnS, PbS and MoS2). The solvometallurgical processes employed a range of sol-
voleaching systems, such as D2EHPA+MnO2+H2O, ammoniacal solvoleaching comprising of LIX 84-
I+NH4OH+H2O2, HCl-equilibrated TBP (TBP-HCl) and EG (ethylene glycol)-based solvents containing each of
HCl, FeCl3, ChCl and NH4Cl. The solvoleaching mechanism of the metal sulfides in each solvoleaching system
was discussed. The results were corroborated with thermodynamic tools like Eh-pH diagrams, Gibbs free energy
change, and solvation properties of the metal ions, as well as the hard and soft acid-base (HSAB) theory. Analyses
of the resulting leach solutions, utilizing suitable analytical techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy and FTIR,
provided additional support for the results. A comparison made between the solvoleaching and classical aqueous
leaching, showing comparable results, indicated the viability of solvoleaching processes as alternatives for the
sustainable extraction of these metals from their sulfides.
Domaines
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