1. General

1.1 Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of copper hydrometallurgy are as follows:

• copper can be obtained very pure from the solution ;

• a siliceous gangue is not attacked by acids, whereas in pyrometallurgy this gangue must be slagged;

• material corrosion problems are comparatively limited, compared with the wear and tear of furnace refractory linings, which have to be replaced periodically with the plant shut down;

• handling products resulting from solution or leaching is cheaper and easier than handling matte, slag or metals. They can also be highly automated;

• a hydrometallurgical process can be...