Copper hydrometallurgy

Compared to copper pyrometallurgy, which began 6,000 years ago, copper hydrometallurgy is more recent; the oldest references date back some 500 years, with the first applications in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the nineteenth century, electrolytic refining met the need for high-purity copper, and in the twentieth century, electrowinning developed. The rapid growth in copper requirements led to the development of hydrometallurgy for oxidized ores, from which a concentrate could not be obtained by flotation.

Wet copper metallurgy is less important than thermal metallurgy, which accounts for around 80% of total production. However, the wide range of options offered by wet processing makes it a highly attractive option, and research in this field is very active, especially since the advent of anti-pollution legislation and the development of knowledge in biotreatment.

The complete study of the subject includes the articles :

• [M 2 240] Copper: resources, processes and products ;

• [M 2 241] Pyrometallurgy and electrorefining of copper ;

• [M 2 242] Copper hydrometallurgy (this article) ;

• [M2 243] Copper recycling and the environment ;

• [Doc. M 2 244] Copper metallurgy.