Hydrometallurgical Processing of Copper

This study explores the potential of utilizing copper smelting dust as a neutralizing agent for sulfuric acid, thereby conserving the use of costly copper pellets for this purpose. The research investigates the phase, mineralogical, and chemical composition of the smelting dust, alongside the feasibility of processing it through hydrometallurgical methods. The study employs water and sulfuric acid leaching to optimize the extraction of copper from the metallurgical plant dust. Findings indicate that processing oxygen-flare smelting dust in a designated cycle can enhance the efficiency of the Flash Smelting Furnace (FSF) when dealing with sulfide copper concentrates. This approach not only alleviates the furnace from the ballast effect of accumulated dust but also increases its capacity by 15-20%. The results demonstrate the viability of integrating copper dust processing into existing metallurgical practices, presenting a promising avenue for reducing costs and improving resource management in copper metallurgy.