THE LEACHING OF CHALCOPYRITE WITH FERRIC SULFATE AND FERRIC CHLORIDE

The leaching of natural chalcopyrite was investigated using ferric sulfate and ferric chloride solutions, highlighting the different chemical reactions involved. Notably, ferric chloride was identified as a more efficient leaching reagent, with a substantially increased leaching rate linked to finer particle sizes and higher iron concentrations. Unlike ferric sulfate, which preferentially leached along fissures or grain boundaries, the morphology of leaching differed significantly between the two reagents. The study also revealed that the kinetics of leaching followed a linear pattern over an extended period, contrasting with the parabolic kinetics reported in previous literature. Furthermore, the research proposed an explanation of the observed phenomena through the electrochemical theory of leaching, while measuring the mixed potential of chalcopyrite during the leaching process. By examining various parameters influencing the stoichiometry and rate of leaching, this research contributes valuable insights into the fundamental behavior of ferric sulfate and ferric chloride as leaching agents for chalcopyrite, thereby addressing a notable gap within the existing literature.