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Mineralogical Characterisation of Copper Slag and Phase Transformation after Carbocatalytic Reduction for Hydrometallurgical Extraction of Copper and Cobalt
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Mineralogical Characterisation of Copper Slag and Phase Transformation after Carbocatalytic Reduction for Hydrometallurgical Extraction of Copper and Cobalt

Tina Phiri, Pritam Singh and Aleksandar Nikoloski
Metals (Basel ), Vol.14(10), 1119
2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/met14101119
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CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

Copper smelting slag is a significant potential resource for cobalt and copper. The recovery of copper and cobalt from copper slag could significantly augment the supply of these metals, which are essential to facilitating the transition to green energy while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns regarding slag disposal. However, the complex mineral composition of copper slag poses an enormous challenge. This study investigated the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of copper slag, which are vital for devising the most effective processing techniques. XRD and FESEM-EDS were employed to examine the morphologies of copper slag before and after the reduction process. The effects of borax and charcoal (carbocatalytic) reduction on phase transformation were evaluated. The XRD analysis revealed that the primary phases in the copper slag were Fe2SiO4 and Fe3O4. The FESEM-EDS analysis verified the presence of these phases and yielded supplementary details regarding metal embedment in the Fe2SiO4, Fe3O4, and Cu phases. The carbocatalytic reduction process expedited the transformation of copper slag microstructures from crystalline dendritic to amorphous and metallic phases. Finally, leaching experiments demonstrated the potential benefits of carbocatalytic reduction by yielding high extractions of Cu, Co, and Fe.

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