Copper Production from Copper Oxide Ore via Hydrometallurgy

This report provides a comprehensive cost evaluation of the production of copper from copper oxide ore via hydrometallurgy. The process starts with mining the ores from open pits, followed by transporting the ores to processing sites where the ores are crushed into smaller sizes. The crushed ores are then subjected to heap leaching, where dilute sulfuric acid is used to dissolve the copper from the ores and the resultant solution of sulfuric acid and copper, also called pregnant leach solution, is then collected.

Heap leaching is furthered by solvent extraction. The pregnant leach solution is mixed with an immiscible solvent so that copper can migrate from the leach solution to the solvent, followed by the separation of the two liquids. Copper in the solvent remains. Thus, the copper solution is then subjected to electrowinning or electrolysis, with the copper solution as an electrolyte, thus giving pure copper on the cathode plate.

The project economic analysis provided in the report discusses a Germany-based plant:

• Manufacturing Process
  • Process Flow
  • Material Flow
  • Material Balance
• Raw Material and Product's Specifications
  • Raw Material Consumption
  • Product and Co-Product Generation
  • Capital Investment
• Land and Site Cost
  • Offsites/Civil Works
  • Equipment Cost
  • Auxiliary Equipment Cost
  • Contingency
  • Engineering and Consulting Charges
  • Working Capital
• Variable Cost
  • Raw Material
  • Utilities
• Fixed Cost
  • Labor Requirement & Wages
  • Overhead Expenses
  • Maintenance Charges
• Financing Costs
  • Interest on Working Capital
  • Interest on Loans
• Depreciation Charges
• General Sales and Admin Costs
• Production Cost Summary