Heat activation pretreatment and pressure leaching of complex copper sulfide ores

The heat activation-pressure leaching of complex copper sulfide ores with tetrahedrite as the main mineral was studied. The results show that the leaching rates of copper and zinc are as high as 94.08% and 96.95%,respectively,while that of iron is limited at 22.37% in the following conditions:the heat activation temperature 573 K,the heat activation time 1-2 h,the leaching temperature 453 K,the oxygen partial pressure 0.6 MPa,the initial sulfuric acid concentration 1.23 mol/L,the liquid to solid ratio 5:1,the calcium lignosulphonate dosage of 1.25% of the mass of the ores,the leaching time 2 h. No loss of lead,zinc,sulfur and arsenic in the ores occurs during the heat activation pretreatment. The heat activation mechanism of complex copper sulfide ores is further discussed.