Systems and methods for improved metal recovery using ammonia leaching

摘要

Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and a leach medium comprising ammonia and ammonium carbonate, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
leaching a slurry comprising a metal bearing material comprising one of copper and cobalt and copper and cobalt compounds, and a leach medium comprising ammonia and ammonium carbonate; adding copper powder to the slurry; separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, the pregnant leach solution comprising copper and cobalt; and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce a copper bearing loaded aqueous stream and a cobalt bearing raffinate.