Treatment of a Nigerian covellite ore. Part II: extraction and purification of copper by tri-butyl-phosphate and enhanced β-diketones in kerosene

ABSTRACT Research was carried out to investigate the use of tributylphosphate (TBP) and enhanced β-diketones for extracting copper from covellite ore leach liquor. The effect of some parameters such as contact time, temperature, phase ratio, equilibrium pH, and extractant concentration on the extent of copper extraction was examined. For the following conditions: temperature 27 ± 2°C, phase ratio 1:1, extraction efficiency of 95.30% total copper was achieved using a mixture of 0.25 mol/L enhanced β-diketones + 0.10 mol/L TBP in kerosene within 15 minutes at pH of 7.8. Furthermore, the stripping of approximately 97.3% of pure copper from the loaded organic phase was successfully attained at optimal conditions. The hydrometallurgical flow chart summarizing the analytical operations for the extraction and recovery process was provided.