Determination of the Optimum Conditions for Copper Leaching from Chalcopyrite Concentrate Ore Using Taguchi Method

Abstract

The optimum conditions for the extraction of copper from chalcopyrite concentrate into SO2-saturated water were evaluated using the Taguchi optimization method. High level copper recovery was obtained in an environmentally friendly process that avoids sulfur dioxide emission into the atmosphere because SO2 forming in the roasting is used in the dissolution. Experimental parameters and their ranges were chosen as follows: reaction temperature, 293-333 K; solid-to-liquid ratio, 0.025-0.15 g/mL; roasting time, 30-90 min; roasting temperature, 773-973 K; stirring speed, 400-800 rpm; and reaction time, 10-60 min. The particle size and gas flow rate were 63 mm and 10 cm(3)/min, respectively. The optimum conditions of the dissolution process were determined to be reaction temperature of 318 K, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 0.025 gmL(-1), a roasting time of 75 min, a roasting temperature of 773 K, a stirring speed of 400 rpm, and a reaction time of 30 min. Under optimum conditions, dissolution yield of copper was 91%.