Evaluation and selection of extractants for the separation of copper and zinc from chloride leach liquor

Abstract The paper describes the bench-scale studies on the solvent extraction separation of copper and zinc from chloride liquors resulting from the low temperature chlorination of a lead-zinc sulphide concentrate. Various possible extractants were evaluated and the selection of the most suitable reagent was based on the effect of total chloride and equilibrium pH on extraction and discrimination, scrubbing and stripping. Acorga P5300 was the most suitable extractant for copper and TBP was selected for zinc.