729490895 TFC Jordi kayombo

Copper solvent extraction units at large hydrometallurgical plants face constraints in metal recovery, phase disengagement, and reagent consumption, directly affecting productivity and operating costs. This study aimed to compare the performance of two commercial extractants, LIX 984NC and Acorga OPT 5540, for copper recovery from industrial liquors at the Luilu plant, and to define operating conditions maximizing copper extraction and stripping while limiting cobalt, iron, and manganese co-extraction. Bench-scale mixer–settler tests were performed using plant electrolyte and pregnant leach solutions, varying organic/aqueous ratio, extractant concentration, contact time, and number of stages; complementary stripping and maximum loading capacity tests, as well as phase separation kinetics measurements, were conducted for both reagents. With optimized conditions, copper extraction efficiencies above 95 % were obtained for both extractants, while co-extraction of cobalt, iron, and manganese remained below 5 % in the organic phase; copper stripping yields exceeded 98 % with acidified lean electrolyte. Maximum copper loading capacities reached values on the order of 7–10 g/L, and complete phase disengagement was achieved in less than 60 s, indicating favorable kinetics. Comparative results showed that one extractant required a lower organic/aqueous ratio to reach similar copper recovery, corresponding to an estimated extractant consumption reduction of about 10–15 %. These outcomes demonstrate that appropriate extractant selection and operating parameter optimization significantly improve copper recovery and selectivity in industrial solvent extraction circuits while lowering reagent usage.