ACORGA® OPT5540: Advantages and Contributions to Copper Extraction in the African Copperbelt

Since the introduction of solvent extraction in the hydrometallurgical processing of copper, numerous studies have sought to enhance extractant formulations. In 2006, Solvay developed the ACORGA® OPT series, which utilizes a blended formulation of both aldoxime and ketoxime with selected modifiers to optimize copper transfer. The study details how incorporating these modifiers results in increased copper transfer through interactions within the blend. Adjusting the ketoxime concentration and the ratio of modifier to aldoxime improves the formulation's strength, leading to enhanced copper transfer and greater Cu:Fe selectivity. Particularly, ACORGA® OPT5540 has proven its effectiveness in agitated leach plants across the African region, adapting to variable pregnant leach solution (PLS) conditions characterized by fluctuations in copper grade and pH. This paper examines the advantages of deploying ACORGA® OPT5540 in the Copperbelt, addressing the challenges of maintaining process optimization in environments with variable copper content in ores, and emphasizes the importance of reagent selection in achieving superior copper extraction efficiency. Ultimately, the findings support continued reliance on modified aldoxime-ketoxime blends as a preferred reagent choice in agitated leach solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) operations in the region.