Removing iron from copper, especially in the context of copper hydrometallurgy, primarily involves chemical precipitation and solvent extraction.
Here's a breakdown of the common methods:
Methods for Iron Removal from Copper Solutions
The main methods for separating iron from copper leach solutions are:
-
Chemical Precipitation: This method involves adding chemicals to the solution that selectively react with iron, causing it to form a solid precipitate. This solid can then be filtered out, leaving a solution enriched in copper.
- Examples of precipitating agents include lime (calcium hydroxide) or other alkaline substances.
- The iron precipitates typically form as iron hydroxides or iron oxides.
-
Solvent Extraction: This technique utilizes a solvent that selectively extracts either the copper or the iron from the aqueous solution. The two liquid phases (aqueous and organic) are then separated.
- If the solvent extracts iron, the copper remains in the original aqueous solution.
- If the solvent extracts copper, the iron remains in the aqueous solution, which is then further processed to recover any remaining copper.
Summary Table
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Chemical Precipitation | Adding chemicals to selectively precipitate iron as a solid, which is then filtered out. |
| Solvent Extraction | Using a solvent to selectively extract either iron or copper, allowing for separation of the two. |
The reference material states: "Iron removal is a common procedure in hydrometallurgy of non-ferrous metallic ores. Chemical precipitation and solvent extraction are currently the main methods employed for separation of iron from copper leach solution."
