Leaching of flotation tailings with a solution of sulfuric acid and ionic liquid
Abstract: This paper presents the results of leaching flotation tailings containing 0.13% of copper and 4.22 % of iron. The experiments were carried out in a sulfuric acid solution (H2SO4) and an ionic liquid solution 1- butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([bmim]HSO4). Concentrations of the reagents of 0.01 mol/dm3 and 0.05 mol/dm3 were tested. When leaching with sulfuric acid, the leaching degree of copper was 71.05% at the lower concentration of solution and 76.59% at the higher concentration of solution. When flotation tailings was leached in an ionic liquid solution with the same concentrations, the leaching degree of copper was 72.57% (for 0.01 mol/dm3) and 77.10% (for 0.05 mol/dm3), respectively. The results showed that the leaching rate of copper increased in the first 5-10 minutes of the reaction due to the presence of oxide minerals and then slightly increased with time. The dissolution of iron was <3% under the tested conditions. These results indicate that the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([bmim]HSO4) can be used as agent for the leaching process of flotation tailings.
engleski
2023
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Keywords: leaching, flotation tailings, sulfuric acid, ionic liquids.