Development of a hydrometallurgical technology for production of metals from KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. concentrates

Rapidly declining quality of copper concentrates produced by Lubin Concentrator of KGHM Polska Miedz SA, having very low content of Cu, high content of Pb, As and organic carbon as well as significant contents of Ag, Co, Ni, Zn, Re, V and Mo, makes the concentrates difficult-to-process by flash smelting. Currently hydrometallurgy, using sulfuric acid in the presence of iron(III) and oxygen as a leaching medium for base metals and chloride leaching for silver and lead, seems to be an alternative for pyrometallurgy. The goal of the work is to discuss main aspects of the necessity of application a new hydrometallurgical technology, based on different unit operations, including non-oxidative atmospheric, chloride and pressure leaching, recovery of Pb and Ag, separation of Cu and accompanying metals from PLS and arsenic neutralization. The unique lithological, mineralogical and chemical properties of the process feed were discussed in details. The results of laboratory investigations performed at the Wroclaw University of Technology and assumptions of the process scale-up for acquisition of data for full scale technology were summarized. Planned investigations on the pilot plant scale will provide technical and economic data for a pre-feasibility study of the future hydrometallurgical plant.