METHOD FOR BIOLEACHING AND SOLVENT EXTRACTION WITH SELECTIVE RECOVERY OF COPPER AND ZINC FROM POLYMETAL CONCENTRATES OF SULFIDES

摘要

A bioleaching and solvent extraction process with selective recovery of copper and zinc from polymetallic sulphide concentrates is described, comprising a bioleaching and ferric ion reducing process and a copper and zinc solvent extraction process.;The bioleaching and ferric ion reducing process comprises a concentrates pulp conditioning step; a bioleaching step, wherein once the pulp is conditioned it is subjected to a bioleaching process using a plurality of bioreactors of the stirred-tank type with an air injection and diffusion system, which allows handling of a pulp density higher than 15%; a step of solid separation from a solution rich in metallic ions from the bioleaching step; and, a ferric ion reduction step, wherein the pulp from the previous step is subjected to a transformation step of ferric ions into ferrous ions.;The solvent extraction step comprises a copper solvent extraction and electrolysis step; an arsenic control step, wherein arsenic is controlled in the solution once copper has been extracted from it; and, a zinc solvent extraction and electrolysis step, which uses a phosphinic acid-based zinc extraction dissolution.

主权项

1. A bioleaching and solvent extraction process with selective recovery of copper and zinc from sulphide polymetallic concentrates, comprising a bioleaching and ferric ion reduction step, followed by a copper and zinc solvent extraction step, wherein the bioleaching and ferric ion reduction step includes the steps of: a) conditioning of a sulphide polymetallic concentrates pulp; b) bioleaching of the sulphide polymetallic concentrates pulp; c) solid separation of the pulp coming from the bioleaching step; and d) ferric ion transformation (reduction); while the copper and zinc solvent extraction step includes the steps of: a) copper solvent extraction and electrolysis; b) arsenic control; and, c) zinc solvent extraction and electrolysis.