The Complementary Aspects of Ion-Exchange Resins and Solvent Extraction in Copper Recovery Processes

A complementary ion exchange/solvent extraction process for the recovery of copper from low-grade ores developed by Iontech Engineering Ltd. is described. It has successfully been implemented on a full-scale plant level at the Buchim Copper Mine in Macedonia, yielding a maximum copper cathode production of 2400 tonnes per year. Technical and economic aspects of three years of operational experience are comprehensively compared with the Asarel Medet copper plant in Bulgaria, which is utilizing conventional solvent extraction in the enrichment/purification step. The concentration and separation of copper from primary leachates is crucial in hydrometallurgical processing of oxide ores; traditionally, this involves a solvent extraction (SX) process where copper reports to the organic phase from the pregnant leach solution (PLS). Despite being the “technology of choice”, the SX process suffers from drawbacks like poor phase disengagement and high capital costs, particularly with leachates of lower copper content. This highlights the need for alternative technologies to overcome these challenges.