Copper Pressure Leaching With Oxygen for Shorter Reaction Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Atmospheric pressure leaching techniques for copper recovery are inefficient, requiring long reaction times, increasing costs, and necessitating additional processes to remove impurities, with low productivity and high fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A pressure leaching method using an autoclave facility to precipitate iron components as jarosite or hematite, optimizing temperature, pressure, and acidity conditions to enhance copper leaching efficiency and reduce reaction time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If atmospheric pressure leaching technique is used, then equipment investment is reduced and operation risk is lowered, but reaction time increases to 16-24 hours and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pressure leaching by changing the pressure parameter from atmospheric pressure to pressurized conditions (typically 2-10 MPa). This parameter change dramatically reduces the reaction time from 16-24 hours to 2-6 hours while maintaining operational reliability through controlled pressurization in autoclave reactors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of oxygen by dissolving it under pressure in the leaching solution. Under pressurized conditions, oxygen solubility increases significantly, enabling faster oxidation reactions that accelerate copper leaching without requiring extended reaction times.
2Device complexity
If atmospheric pressure leaching technique is used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but reaction time increases and operational costs increase due to prolonged fuel and steam consumption
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from atmospheric pressure to pressurized conditions, the patent reduces reaction time from 16-24 hours to 2-6 hours. Although pressurized equipment increases initial investment, the reduced fuel and steam consumption over time offsets these costs, improving overall operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic oxygen injection cycles during the pressure leaching process. Oxygen is injected in controlled periods to maintain optimal oxidation conditions, which accelerates copper dissolution while managing energy consumption more efficiently than continuous atmospheric leaching.
3Ease of operation
If atmospheric pressure leaching technique is used, then process simplicity is maintained, but impurity removal becomes problematic as most impurity components are leached out along with copper
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pressurized conditions to create a more selective leaching environment. The elevated pressure and temperature conditions, combined with controlled oxygen injection, favor copper oxidation and dissolution while leaving many impurity components behind, thereby improving selective extraction without significantly complicating the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs oxygen under pressurized conditions as a strong oxidant that preferentially oxidizes copper over many impurity metals. This accelerated oxidation selectively dissolves copper into the leaching solution, improving separation efficiency and reducing the need for complex downstream purification processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method significantly reduces reaction time, increases copper leaching rate, enhances productivity, and minimizes the need for subsequent purification processes, thereby lowering operational costs and improving overall efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
pressure-leaching copper while injecting oxygen into the pressurization device
Implementation Method 2
introducing the raw material into a leachate in a pressurization device and pressure-leaching copper
Implementation Method 3
precipitating an iron component of the raw material... in the form of at least one of jarosite and hematite
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a method for leaching copper using a pressure leaching technique, according to one embodiment, including: a raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing copper; and a pressure leaching step including a step of introducing the raw material into a leachate in a pressurization device and pressure-leaching copper while injecting oxygen into the pressurization device.