Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Mitra Moradi ¹
• Saeid Karimi ¹
• Bahram Behnajady ²

¹ Hamedan University of Technology, Hamedan, Iran

² Materials Engineering department, Sahand University of Technology

Abstract

The conventional techniques of pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy used to produce copper involve high energy consumption, substantial costs, and pose environmental challenges. Leaching in biocompatible solvents such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) can be considered a suitable alternative to conventional production methods. In this study, Sungun copper concentrate (SCC), with the primary phases of chalcopyrite, and pyrite, was used to evaluate the leaching of copper, and iron in various DESs with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 20 g/L, at a temperature of 100 °C, and a time of 24 h. Three-component DES based on choline chloride (ChCl) as hydrogen acceptor, and p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA), and various third phases as hydrogen donors were used as solvents. The third components are oxalic acid (OA), ethylene glycol (EG), sucrose (S), malonic acid (MOA), fructose (F), urea (U), maleic acid (MA), citric acid (CA), glucose (G). According to the results of the leaching of copper, and iron, selective dissolution wasn’t achieved in any of the ternary DESs. Among these DESs, the ChCl:PTSA:MOA with a leaching efficiency of 89% of copper had the highest leaching efficiency, and at the same time, it dissolved less iron. By adding a small amount of water to sugar-based DES (i.e., ChCl:PTSA:S, ChCl:PTSA:F, and ChCl:PTSA:G), the synthesis was successfully performed by changing the physical, and chemical properties, but the dissolution of chalcopyrite in sugar-based DES was significantly reduced.

Keywords

• Chalcopyrite
• Leaching
• Ternary deep eutectic solvent
• Choline chloride
• p-toluene sulfonic acid

Main Subjects

• Extractive metallurgy