Seperation & Recovery of Cu and Zn by Solvent Extraction - Electrowinning from the Sulphate Leach Liquor of Complex Sulphide Ore

Abstract

Complex sulphide ores containing Cu, Zn, and Pb form an important source of base metals in India. The sulphides are first floated out and the buck sulphide concentrates are subjected to roasting in fluidised bed reactor, where the metal sulphides are converted to setluble sulphates. The roasted mass is leached with water when copper and zinc get solubilised leaving lead in the insoluble residue. The solution is processed further by solvent extraction technique to extract copper quantitatively using the commercial extractant, LIX 64N, The zinc remains unextracted and can be recovered by electro-winning. This paper describes the process developed and the results obtained on recovery of electrolytic grade- copper and zinc.