Selective leaching of metals from mechanically activated sulphides

Abstract

The selectivity of leaching of sphalerite, tetrahedrite, arsenopyrite, bornite and chalcopyrite was studied. We can affect selective leaching in additon to suitable mechanochemical pretreatment of solid phase also by the choice of suitable leaching agent – H2SO4. The selectivity of leaching is defined by the ratio recoveries of valuable and unvaluable component (Fe). The ratio is sensitive to the leaching time and is affected by mechanical activation of selected sulphides unambiguously. The experimental data lead to the conclusion that the mechanical activation may enhance the rate and selectivity of the metals extraction from the mineral under study.

Keywords

• mechanical activation
• acid leaching
• sulphides
• selectivity