Abstract

Ionic liquids are salts with properties that install them as an efficient and ecological agent for the leaching of sulphide minerals such as chalcopyrite. In the present work, the solution of pure chalcopyrite in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, [bmim] HSO4, pure pyrite and chloride as complexing agent is investigated. The system is compared to another test under the same conditions, but without pyrite in the system. The results showed that a galvanic effect does not occur when the chalcopyrite/pyrite ratio is 4/1. The best Cu extraction was achieved at a temperature of 80 °C, with a H2SO4 concentration of 0.5 M, at a 20% v/v LI concentration and without the presence of pyrite, with a value of 73.83%.