Effect of the Jetti Catalyst on the Dissolution of Chalcopyrite and Bornite—A Chemical and Electrochemical Analysis
摘要
Using pulverized, pure mineral specimens, the Jetti leach catalyst is shown to increase leach kineticsLeach kinetics of both chalcopyriteChalcopyrite and borniteBornite where after 24 h, copper recoveryCopper recovery increased from 10 to 39% on chalcopyriteChalcopyrite and from 39 to 79% for the borniteBornite sample studied. Under conventional acid-ferricFerric sulfateSulfate leachingLeaching, borniteBornite leaches in two stages, a rapid first stage kineticKinetics where approximately 30% of the copperCopper is leached until a passive Cu2FeS2 phase is formed. This passive condition is also seen in chalcopyriteChalcopyrite leachingLeaching; however, second stage borniteBornite remains more active than chalcopyriteChalcopyrite as shown through lower rest potential and smaller potential difference (ΔOCP = OCP2-OCP1). Leach kineticsLeach kinetics are independent of ORP within the range of 480–540 mV versus Saturated Ag/AgCl.