Carlos Kovacs-Figueroa
The construction of a two-module leaching plant was initiated at the Morenci smelter in response to the increased production of sulfuric acid and stringent air pollution regulations in the early 1970s. This study aims to evaluate the operational efficiency and design specifications of the leaching plant, equipped with capabilities for leach feed pumping, agitated leaching, and two-stage countercurrent decantation. The methodology involved constructing feasibility studies and conducting experimental work to establish optimal leaching conditions for oxide copper minerals present in Morenci tailings, which were unsuitable for flotation. The results indicated that leaching could effectively be completed in less than 2 hours, with approximately 35% copper recovery achieved using 35 lb of acid per ton to achieve a necessary pH of 1.5. A clear process flow was established, where the pregnant solution underwent a dilution step before precipitation with scrap iron, ultimately leading to recycling of the barren solution. The findings substantiate the efficacy of the leaching plant in utilizing the smelter's sulfuric acid while complying with environmental regulations.
@article{fb817e83-599a-425c-80dd-6daeab602fbe,
title={Morenci Tailings Leaching Plant},
author={Carlos Kovacs-Figueroa},
year={1975},
language={en}
}TY - JOUR TI - Morenci Tailings Leaching Plant AU - Carlos Kovacs-Figueroa PY - 1975 LA - en ER -
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