Extraction process of metals and removal of impurities from sulfide ores with aluminum permanganate [Al(MnO4)3] oxidizer: Experimental design and industrial modeling

Nowadays, sulfide ores are a huge source of precious metals. One of the main problems for working with sulfide ores is their low solubility in acids (K-sp<10(-20)) and the production of toxic and harmful by-products. In the present study, the use of aluminum permanganate [Al(MnO4)(3)] oxidizer for sulfide ore dissolution and metal extraction has partially solved this problem. Taguchi experimental design based on Aspen Hysys modeling assembled has been applied to dissolution study of sulfide ores with Al(MnO4)(3) oxidizer as a novel plan from experimental to industrial scale. The optimum results have been utilized as the primary data for the simulation and sensitivity analysis of the process by Aspen Hysys software. The effects of operating parameters including pH, retention temperature, agitation rate, retention time, amount of Al(MnO4)(3) consumed, leaching density, grain size and oxygen pressure have been investigated on the extraction efficiency of metals from sulfide ores. Under optimized conditions, Zn, Cu, and Pb metal extraction efficiency was obtained above 77%, 73%, and 70%, respectively.