Answer to Question #160032 in Inorganic Chemistry for Rodgers

Question

Why malachite is commonly processed using acid leaching method and chalcopyrite using froth flotation method

Answer 1

Because malachite ores are generally low-grade, hydrometallurgical methods are often applied to obtain copper from them. When sulfuric acid is employed as lixiviant to extract copper from the ore, other metals in the ore matrix are also dissolved together with the copper during the leaching process.

The froth flotation process of chalcopyrite influenced by the presence of sludges and clays into the pulp during flotation. Is was observed a significant optimization in the concentration by froth flotation of the chalcopyrite by using Jig screen and the peptizes were removed during the flotation step.