Thermodynamic modeling of atmospheric hydrometallurgical removal of chalcopyrite from molybdenite concentrates

• Leaching of CuFeS2 from MoS2 concentrates is modeled using thermodynamic software.
• Cuprous ions are the major Cu species present at equilibrium after leaching.
• Modeling of leaching equilibrium motivates and defines future developments.
• Alternative leaching reagents are screened using thermodynamic models.

Hydrometallurgical leaching is a critical step in reducing the impurity content of molybdenite concentrates; the removal of copper by this method has been widely studied from an industrial perspective. An understanding of the thermodynamic conditions leading to the removal of chalcopyrite from molybdenite concentrates is necessary to guide process optimization and future developments. Thermodynamic modeling software was used to identify process conditions for complete copper leaching in the traditional ferric chloride system, which agree with conditions typically used in industry; these were then extended to investigate alternative leaching reagents. Thermodynamic modeling, coupled with an understanding of process conditions, can guide future study.