PDF

The Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

O.S. Tinkler, K.C. Sole

2023Englishsolvent extractionhydrometallurgyliquid-liquid extractionsx-ewcopperore processing

Abstract

Language:

Approximately 20% of current world copper cathode output is produced using a hydrometallurgical process route, generally referred to as the leach–solvent extraction–electrowinning flowsheet. Since its commercialization in the late 1960s, steady improvements in the performance and efficiency of the solvent-extraction reagents and equipment, combined with significant developments in leaching and electrowinning, have broadened the variety of ore types suitable for this technology. This review aims to outline the historical development and evolution of copper solvent extractants and mixer-settler contactors, emphasizing the significance of the Copperbelt region in the commercial adoption of this technology. Opportunities and challenges presented by high-grade oxide ores of the Copperbelt are contrasted with the processing of solutions derived from low-grade mixed oxide–sulfide ore bodies that predominate in other geological contexts. The paper discusses the current status of hydrometallurgical copper production in the African Copperbelt within a global framework and provides a medium-term outlook for the technology.

Download

Cite This Work

@article{0595a36c-9d97-415e-8218-45b8f9e25b5d,
  title={The Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy},
  author={O.S. Tinkler and K.C. Sole},
  year={2023},
  language={English}
}
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
AU  - O.S. Tinkler
AU  - K.C. Sole
PY  - 2023
LA  - English
ER  -

Similar Items

Recovery of copper from alkaline glycine leach solution using solvent extraction

B.C. Tanda, E.A. Oraby, J.J. Eksteen

Glycine solutions in an alkaline environment have been shown to be able to leach copper from its oxide, native and sulfide minerals as a copper glycin

2025enPDF

729490895 TFC Jordi kayombo

Copper solvent extraction units at large hydrometallurgical plants face constraints in metal recovery, phase disengagement, and reagent consumption, d

2026enPDF

Leaching in extractive metallurgy 20251125 01

Roger Rumbu

This book provides a comprehensive treatment of leaching as a central unit operation in non‑ferrous extractive metallurgy, with particular emphasis on

2025enPDF

OUTOTEC SMELTING SOLUTIONS FOR THE PGM INDUSTRY

L. Aspola, R. Matusewicz, K. Haavanlammi, S. Hughes

The platinum group metals (PGMs), i.e. ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, are typically found in association with each othe

2012enPDF

Towars industrial implementation of glycine-based leach and adsorption technologies for gold-copper ores

J. J. Eksteen, E. A. Oraby, B. C. Tanda, P. J. Tauetsile, G. A. Bezuidenhout, T. Newton, F. Trask & I. Bryan, B. C. Tanda a, F. Trask and I. Bryan

The technology to selectively leach gold, silver and base metals from ores, concentrates, and wastes, using an alkaline glycine solution, has initiat

2017enPDF

Metals Recovery: Study of the Kinetic Aspects of Copper Acidic Leaching Waste Printed Circuit Boards from Discarded Mobile Phones

Martina Laubertová, Bora Derin, Jarmila Trpčevská, Klaudia Šándorová and Emília Sminčáková

This study was performed to investigate the possibility of copper recovery from the waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) of waste mobile phones using

2019enPDF