Mining and Minerals

Copper and Cobalt Hydrometallurgy

The copperbelt runs oxide, sulphide and mixed ores through circuits that were often built for one of them, and cobalt makes the chemistry harder because it follows copper through most of the flowsheet until it is deliberately separated. This course works through both metals together. Delegates work through ore mineralogy and why acid consumption is the figure that decides whether an oxide ore is economic. Leaching is covered across agitation, vat and heap routes, with acid balance and gangue reaction. Sulphide treatment follows, including roasting, pressure leaching and bioleaching. Solid liquid separation and counter current decantation are addressed. Solvent extraction is worked through in detail: reagent selection, isotherms, phase disengagement and crud. Electrowinning follows, covering current efficiency, cathode quality and the impurities that cause rejection. Cobalt separation, purification and precipitation are covered. The course closes on impurity management, on reagent cost and on plant metallurgical accounting.