Abstract

The leaching behavior of chalcopyrite concentrate in acidic CuCl2-NaCl-O2 solutions was investigated. Experiments were conducted under continuous flow of oxygen at atmospheric pressures. The results indicated that among the variables temperature has the largest influence on the dissolution of chalcopyrite in this medium, and high copper extraction can only be obtained at temperatures near the boiling point of the solution. It was also found that the stirring speed did not influence appreciably the dissolution of chalcopyrite. An increase in the oxygen flow rate up to 0.1 1/min increased the copper extraction. The total chloride concentration affects the dissolution of chalcopyrite up to about 4 M. Copper extraction of 93% was obtained in leaching chalcopyrite of size fraction -400 # Tyler at 105°C in 2 hours.