Studies on hydrometallurgical processes using nuclear techniques to be applied in copper industry. I. Application of 64Cu radiotracer for investigation of copper ore leaching

Scientific objective of this work was elaboration of radiometric method for the development of hydrometallurgical process for recovery of Cu from the copper ore. A neutron activation analysis (NAA) was identified as a very convenient tool for the process investigation. The samples of copper ore were activated in a nuclear reactor. The parameters of the neutron activation were calculated. Radioisotope 64Cu was selected as an optimal tracer, and it was used for the investigation of the leaching process. During the experiments, various processes applying leaching media such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and organic acids were investigated. The recovery of the metals using sulphuric acid was insufficient, around 10%. Investigated organic media also did not meet expectations. The best results were obtained in experiments with nitric acid. Up to 90% of Cu and other metals were extracted from the copper ore. Copper concentration calculations obtained by NAA were confimed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. Both techniques gave comparable results, but the advantage of the NAA is a possibility for easy online measurements without shutting down or disturbing the system.