Processing of copper converter slag for metal reclamation. Part I: extraction and recovery of copper and cobalt

Abstract

Clean processing of copper converter slag to reclaim cobalt and copper could be a challenge. An innovative and environmentally sound approach for recovering valuable metals from such a slag has been developed in the present study. Curing the slag with strong sulphuric acid, without re-smelting or roasting as practiced currently in the industry, render it accessible to leaching, and more than 95% of cobalt and up to 90% of copper was extracted together with iron by water leaching, leaving silica behind in a residue. The copper in the leach liquor was recovered by cementation with iron and the dissolved iron crystallized as ferrous sulphate monohydrate. The cobalt in the mother-liquor rich in iron was recovered by either cementation or sulphide precipitation. Operation variables in the new process were also investigated and optimized.

Keywords

Converter slag cobalt copper sulphuric acid digestion reclamation wmr 668—4

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