Recovery of copper from dilute solutions

Abstract

The product liquors obtained in the dump and in situ leaching of copper ores are necessarily dilute. The search for cheaper methods for the winning of copper from such dilute liquors has led to the development of cementation, ion exchange and solvent extraction to be adopted. The review traces the recent developments in the use of the old and well established cementation technique for the recovery of copper from mine waters and bacterial leach solutions and the recent applications of solvent extraction and ion exchange for copper recovery. The review also includes description of the commercial operations and the economics of such operations. (C. Sankaran, S.R. Srinivasan and D.D. Akerkar, Scientists, National Metallurgical Laboratory)