Modified Hydrometallurgical Approach for the Beneficiation of Copper from Its Low-Grade Ore

This study describes a novel hydrometallurgical approach for efficient copper recovery from low-grade ores. Improvement in the copper extraction efficiency was explored by employing blends of acids (sulfuric acid and nitric acid) and an oxidizing agent along with exposure to microwave and ultraviolet radiation. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and optical microscopy (OM) were used to characterize the ores' elemental composition, morphology, and mineralogy, revealing the presence of wroewolfeite, chalcopyrite, and other mineral phases. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) investigated the thermal stability of the ore samples. Under optimal leaching conditions (liquid-solid ratio of 15:1 mL g^-1, copper ore particle size of 55-65 μm, and stirring for 30 min at 300 rpm), the method demonstrated an outstanding copper leaching efficiency of 96.8%. Solvent extraction was performed efficiently with the pregnant leach solution, further enhancing copper extraction to 97.9% within less than a minute of loading time. These results underscore the effectiveness of the modified hydrometallurgical approach for extracting copper from low-grade ores and hint at its potential for extracting other metals. Such versatility of this approach makes a significant contribution to the field of hydrometallurgy.