A Novel Process For Recovery Of Te And Se From Copper Slimes Autoclave Leach Solution

Abstract

In pressure oxidation leaching of copper anode slimes, more than 65% of the tellurium is co-extracted during decopperizing. About 10 – 15% of the selenium is also dissolved imultaneously by severe leach conditions. Current operation for the treatment of the leachate is to constantly recirculate the leach solution through a bed of copper turnings. The tellurium and selenium are precipitated from the leach liquor as copper telluride and copper selenide and separated from the solution by filtration. In order to improve the reaction efficiency and reduce the process cost, viz. minimize the copper addition, cut retention time, and reduce the energy consumption; a chemical reducing agent is studied and the cementation process tested in the laboratory. In this paper, the test results are presented and the process chemistry is discussed.