Thiourea for mining | Leaching copper with thiourea

Thiourea, especially used in copper ore leaching, has many advantages. For example, the leaching efficiency is high, the applicability is wide, and the cost is low.

The principle of thiourea leaching copper is that thiourea can form a stable complex with copper ions, thereby leaching copper from the ore. In the leaching process, suitable copper ore should be selected for raw material preparation, crushed and ground to increase the surface area and improve the leaching efficiency. Prepare thiourea with a high purity of more than 99% as a leaching agent. Appropriate amounts of acids (e.g., sulfuric acid) and oxidants (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) can be added as needed to improve leaching efficiency.

The leaching conditions are usually carried out between room temperature and 60°C, and too high a temperature will cause thiourea to decompose. The pH value is controlled between 2.0-3.0, and the acidic environment is conducive to the complexation reaction of thiourea and copper ions. Depending on the nature and particle size of the ore, the leaching time usually ranges from a few hours to tens of hours. Maintain proper agitation to ensure that thiourea is in sufficient contact with the ore.

In the leaching step, the ore is pre-treated to crush the ore to the appropriate particle size and grind it finely. To prepare the leaching solution, dissolve thiourea in water, add an appropriate amount of acid and oxidant, and prepare the leaching solution. The finely ground ore is added to the leaching solution and stirred to maintain the set temperature and pH. After leaching is completed, solid-liquid separation is carried out to obtain an leachate containing a copper complex, from which copper is recovered by electrolysis, precipitation or other methods.

Although thiourea is less toxic, it is still necessary to wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and goggles. Control the proper pH, too high a pH will affect the complexing ability of thiourea. Avoid excessive temperature to prevent thiourea from decomposing. Ensure that the ore is in full contact with the leaching solution after being evenly stirred to improve the leaching efficiency. The wastewater and waste generated in the process of environmental protection treatment should comply with environmental protection laws and regulations to avoid pollution to the environment.

By using high-purity thiourea leached copper, copper recovery and economic benefits can be significantly improved while reducing environmental impact.

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