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2011-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
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| Editors: | Florian K |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2012 |
| Pages: | 764 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-0-9879917-5-1 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
HYDROMETALLURGY – AN ALTERNATIVE AND A CHANCE FOR KGHM POLSKA MIEDZ SA
Chmielewski Tomasz1;1WROCLAW UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Wroclaw, Poland;
Type of Paper: Invite
Id Paper: 561
Topic: 14
Abstract:
Due to systematically shrinking copper resources and remarkably declining copper ores grade the growing role of hydrometallurgical processes in manufacturing copper and accompanying metals can be observed. Technical, economical and ecological aspects of application of hydrometallurgy were discussed with regard to dominating smelting methods. Exceptional conditions of Polish copper industry was evaluated and indicated were important technical, mineralogical and chemical aspects of necessary application of hydrometallurgy at KGHM for more effective processing of copper ores and concentrates. Analyzed were the hydrometallurgical unit operations compulsory in unique conditions of Polish copper industry: high content of carbonates, decreasing content of Cu, increasing content of Pb, As and organic carbon. Application of hydrometallurgy in KGHM circuits was acknowledged as the only real chance for more rational and sustainable utilization of metal resources from the Polish copper deposits. The beneficial chemical and mineralogical composition of Polish copper ores and concentrates along with easy access to sulphuric acid additionally substantiate the need for comprehensive research work.