Pressure leaching of sulfide concentrate produced by Lubin Concentrator (KGHM Polska Miedz SA, Poland)

The rapidly declining quality of ores and concentrates produced by Lubin Concentrator (KGHM) makes the flotation concentrates exceptionally difficult-to-process by flash smelting. Currently, a hydrometallurgical process, using sulfuric acid with the presence of oxidants as a leaching medium, seems to be either a reasonable alternative or a complementary option to pyrometallurgy. The unique lithological, mineralogical and chemical properties of the concentrate were considered in a selection of the process route. Results of a pressure leaching of the copper sulfide concentrate from Lubin Concentrator (ZWR Lubin) with oxygenated aqueous H2SO4 solutions are presented. The effect of temperature from 120 to 200 °C, initial concentration of H2SO4 from 60 to 100 g/dm3, and oxygen partial pressure ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 MPa were investigated. The pressure leaching appeared to be an efficient process for recovering copper from the Lubin concentrate. At optimal leaching conditions (140 °C, 100 g/dm3 H2SO4, 1.0 MPa O2) 96% of Cu was extracted after 4 h.