OPTIMIZATION OF LEACHING OF COPPER FROM OXIDIZED COPPER ORE IN NH3-(NH4)2SO4 MEDIUM

Studies were carried out for selective leaching of Cu with simultaneous avoidance of iron dissolution during leaching of oxidized copper ore in an aqueous NH₃-(NH₄)₂SO₄ system. The effects of leaching parameters, such as ammonia concentration, ammonium sulphate concentration, leaching time, and solid-to-liquid ratio, were investigated on leaching of copper. A 2ⁿ factorial experimental design method in the dissolution experiments was used. In addition, the “Steepest Ascent” method was also applied to determine the optimum leaching conditions. It was observed that the most effective parameters on the leaching of copper were ammonia concentration and leaching time. Only 0.17% of iron in ore was dissolved in ammonia and ammonium sulphate medium. The optimum conditions established for maximum copper recovery were: ammonia concentration 2.824 mol L^?1, ammonium sulphate concentration 0.236 mol L^?1, solid-to-liquid ratio 0.167 g mL^?1, leaching time 2 h. Fixed parameters chosen in the experiments were: room temperature, average particle size 2.8 mm, stirring speed 500 rpm. Under the optimum conditions established for maximum copper recovery, the percentage of leached copper was 98.87.