Copper leach process aids

摘要

Methods for enhancing the leaching of copper from copper bearing ores with an aqueous sulfuric acid leach solution are disclosed wherein an antifoam formulation stable at a solution pH of about 1 to 2 is added. A preferred antifoam formulation comprises a glycol ester and an alkyl phenol ethoxylate in a paraffinic oil solvent added to the aqueous sulfuric acid leach solution.