:: New Leach Process Offers Prospect of 3% More Copper Recovery

A new leaching technology from FLSmidth is claimed to be capable of increasing copper output copper by 3%—which could translate into a sizable additional annual revenue increase for an average copper mine with primary sulphide ore.

FLSmidth said it had recently filed patents for a new hydrometallurgy process called the FLSmidth Rapid Oxidative Leach that can economically remove the pacification layer of primary sulphides and thereby allow the extraction of copper. The technology operates at atmospheric pressure and temperature around 80°C, making it possible to leach directly at the mine and thus provide a seamless transition from oxide ore to sulphide concentrates.