Abstract

The dissolution of metallic copper has been studied by means of experiments and mathematical modelling including the kinetics and electrolyte speciation. Results indicate that the leaching solution quickly and effectively dissolved a 3 cm × 4 cm × 0.05 cm copper sheet in the study conditions of 25-65°C with 2M H2SO4 and 0.2-1.0M Fe(III) aqueous solutions. Calculated free ferric ion species (Fe3+) presented a very low concentration and the dominant Fe(III) species was the FeH(SO 4)2(aq) neutral complex. Average copper dissolution rates after 3 hours of operation fluctuated between 2.9 and 6.7 mol Cu/m 2/h. The dissolution process was mainly controlled by the chemical reaction at the solidliquid interphase. The activation energy for this reaction was 175 ±8 kJ/mol. Results from this work can be used for the development of copper scrap or copper cement leaching processes and also for the reduction of oxidizing species with metallic copper. © Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.