Copper hydrometallurgy is a branch of metallurgy method to extract copper directly from those difficult-to-concentrate copper oxide ore. Traditional copper hydrometallurgy process typically consists of atmospheric leaching, solvent extraction (SX) and electro-winning (EW). It can produce either copper cathode or copper sulphate crystal. Hydrometallurgy is advantageous in flexible capacity, minimized investment and less complicated equipment, functioning as an effective supplementary to copper pyrometallurgy. 

Pressure leaching is specially targeting at treating complex raw ore, reducing its environment impact, producing  elemental S instead of sulfuric acid, and adapting to various natural environment condition. Specially, it is possible to extract copper from low grade oxidized ores or complex ores. 

Process Description

At the stage of the leaching, the copper ions is obtained by either tank leaching or heap leaching or sometimes by bio-leaching, insitu leaching or even pressure leaching.

Through leaching, the pregnant leaching solution (PLS) is obtained but it should be furthered concentrated and has its impurities to be removed, which we call it solvent extraction, making its copper content and other inclusion suitable for electro-winning.

After solvent extraction, the electrolyte is pumped to electro-winning system where the Pb-Ca-Sn anode plate and stainless steel cathode plate are placed to encourage copper ions deposited to cathode when voltage is applied. Meanwhile, oxygen gas is generated from anode and creates acid mist. The acid mist is captured by the mist scrubber.