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UV/visible spectroscopic analysis of CO3+ and CO2+ during the dissolution of cobalt from mixed Co-Cu oxidized ores

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Abstract

The leaching of cobalt from four-mixed Co-Cu oxidized ores containing cobalt at levels ranging from 0.5wt% to 34wt% was studied and the results has been reported. Conventional dissolution of these oxidized Co-Cu ores with diluted H2SO4 and SO2 as a reducing agent resulted in a substantial improvement in the solution based recovery of cobalt. UV/visible spectroscopic analysis of the leached solutions indicated that the increased cobalt content in the solution was a result of flushing the acidified cobalt leaching solution with SO2. Furthermore, UV/visible spectroscopy confirmed that as SO2 was flushed into the acidified leaching solution, Co3+ bearing minerals were reduced to the readily soluble Co2+ bearing minerals, and this resulted in the increase of total cobalt in the collected solution. The mechanism of the reduction of Co3+ to Co2+ bearing minerals when SO2 is flushed during the leaching of mixed Co-Cu oxidized ores, including the stability trends of Co3+, Co2+, and Cu2+ complexes, as shown by their UV/visible spectra, are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Technology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa

    J. Ndalamo & B. B. Mamba

  2. Department of Extraction Metallurgy, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa

    A. F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi

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  1. J. Ndalamo
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  2. A. F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi
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  3. B. B. Mamba
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Correspondence to B. B. Mamba.

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Ndalamo, J., Mulaba-Bafubiandi, A.F. & Mamba, B.B. UV/visible spectroscopic analysis of CO3+ and CO2+ during the dissolution of cobalt from mixed Co-Cu oxidized ores. Int J Miner Metall Mater 18, 260–269 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-011-0432-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-011-0432-y

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