Extraction of copper from bacterial leach liquor of a low grade chalcopyrite test heap using LIX 984N-C

This study investigates the extraction of copper from low grade chalcopyrite ore using heap bioleaching and solvent extraction with LIX 984N-C. The objective was to optimize conditions for the selective and quantitative removal of copper from bioleach liquor that contained various metal ions. Methodology involved conducting pilot scale heap bioleaching of copper ore sourced from Malanjkhand Copper Mine, where bioleach liquor showed copper (Cu (II)) concentration of 0.45 g/L, alongside other metal ions such as Fe (III) and Zn (II). Various operational factors including equilibrium pH, extractant concentration, strip solution concentration, and phase ratio were evaluated to enhance copper extraction efficiency. The findings demonstrated that effective copper extraction was achieved in two stages using a 1.5% (v/v) concentration of LIX 984N-C at a phase ratio of 1:2 and pH 1.85. Additionally, a counter-current simulation study revealed that the final stripping conditions enabled a fourfold increase in copper concentration in the strip solution. These results underscore the potential of employing a combined bioleaching and solvent extraction approach for recovering copper from low grade ores.