Innovation of mineral processing technology for arsenic removal from copper ore

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H02333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Earth system and resources engineering
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Hirajima Tsuyoshi 九州大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (00175556)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 笹木 圭子 九州大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (30311525) ; 沖部 奈緒子 九州大学, 工学研究院, 准教授 (30604821) ; 三木 一 九州大学, 工学研究院, 准教授 (10706386)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ヒ素含有銅鉱石 / 分離 / 銅 / ヒ素 / 浮選 / 磁選 / リーチング / スコロダイト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We clarified that the copper sulfide minerals, high arsenic containing copper minerals, and molybdenite can be separated by flotation using oxidation of the mineral surface. In addition, it was shown that high arsenic containing copper mineral which is difficult to separate by flotation, can be separated from copper sulfide minerals by newly developed heat treatment / magnetic separation method. As a heating method, microwave heating was also effective. In addition, we revealed the mechanism of scorodite formation and Cu recovery by bioleaching and/or chemical leaching of high arsenic containing copper mineral. We suggested an inexpensive carrier microencapsulation method of sulfide minerals for suppressing acidic mine drainage using hydrothermal treatment liquid of low rank coal and showed it is effective. Based on these results, the optimal process flow for mineral processing of high arsenic containing copper minerals is proposed.

Free Research Field

資源処理工学