Extraction of Copper from a Refractory Copper Oxide Ore by Catalytic Oxidation Acid Leaching

The study aimed to extract copper from copper oxide ores in which copper minerals had a complex association and dissemination with gangue minerals in the form of fine grain by catalytic oxidation acid leaching. Based on the research on the properties of the material and lots of experiments, the leaching process was performed. The optimum parameters of leaching process were determined as sulfuric acid dosage of 150 kg/t, KMnO4 dosage of 1500 g/t, liquid/solid mass ratio of 3 and leaching time of 45 minutes. Under such a condition, the leaching efficiency of 90.15% was achieved, which provided a way to improve leaching efficiency of copper for refractory copper oxide contained some copper sulphide using catalytic oxidation acid leaching.