Leaching of metals from copper smelter flue dust (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt)

Martina Vítková; Vojtěch Ettler; Jiri Hyks; Thomas Astrup; Bohdan Kříbek

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.120

Leaching of metals from copper smelter flue dust (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt)

Martina Vítková
, Vojtěch Ettler
, Jiri Hyks
, Thomas Astrup
, Bohdan Kříbek

Charles University
Czech Geological Survey, Prague

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The leaching behaviour of electrostatic precipitator dust from the Mufulira Cu smelter (Copperbelt, Zambia) was studied using a 48-h pH-static leaching experiment (CEN/TS 14997). The release of metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and changes in mineralogical composition using X-ray diffraction and PHREEQC-2 modelling were investigated in the pH range of 3–7. The highest concentrations of metals were released at pH 3–4.5, which encompasses the natural pH of the dust suspension (∼4.3). About 40% of the total Cu was leached at pH3, yielding 107g/kg. Chalcanthite (CuSO4·5H2O), magnetite (Fe3O4) and delafossite (CuFeO2) represented the principal phases of the studied dust. In contact with water, chalcanthite was dissolved and hydrated Cu sulphates precipitated at pH4–7. Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and secondary Fe or Al phases were observed in the leached residues. Serious environmental impact due to leaching may occur in dust-contaminated soil systems in the vicinity of the smelting plants.

Original language	English
Journal	Applied Geochemistry
Volume	26
Pages (from-to)	263-266
ISSN	0883-2927
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.120
Publication status	Published - 2011

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@article{55b48f686065433ba821a03bf223dc8b,

title = "Leaching of metals from copper smelter flue dust (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt)",

abstract = "The leaching behaviour of electrostatic precipitator dust from the Mufulira Cu smelter (Copperbelt, Zambia) was studied using a 48-h pH-static leaching experiment (CEN/TS 14997). The release of metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and changes in mineralogical composition using X-ray diffraction and PHREEQC-2 modelling were investigated in the pH range of 3{\textendash}7. The highest concentrations of metals were released at pH 3{\textendash}4.5, which encompasses the natural pH of the dust suspension (∼4.3). About 40\% of the total Cu was leached at pH3, yielding 107g/kg. Chalcanthite (CuSO4·5H2O), magnetite (Fe3O4) and delafossite (CuFeO2) represented the principal phases of the studied dust. In contact with water, chalcanthite was dissolved and hydrated Cu sulphates precipitated at pH4{\textendash}7. Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and secondary Fe or Al phases were observed in the leached residues. Serious environmental impact due to leaching may occur in dust-contaminated soil systems in the vicinity of the smelting plants.",

author = "Martina V{\'i}tkov{\'a} and Vojt{\v e}ch Ettler and Jiri Hyks and Thomas Astrup and Bohdan K{\v r}{\'i}bek",

year = "2011",

doi = "10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.120",

language = "English",

volume = "26",

pages = "263--266",

journal = "Applied Geochemistry",

issn = "0883-2927",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Leaching of metals from copper smelter flue dust (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt)

AU - Vítková, Martina

AU - Ettler, Vojtěch

AU - Hyks, Jiri

AU - Astrup, Thomas

AU - Kříbek, Bohdan

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - The leaching behaviour of electrostatic precipitator dust from the Mufulira Cu smelter (Copperbelt, Zambia) was studied using a 48-h pH-static leaching experiment (CEN/TS 14997). The release of metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and changes in mineralogical composition using X-ray diffraction and PHREEQC-2 modelling were investigated in the pH range of 3–7. The highest concentrations of metals were released at pH 3–4.5, which encompasses the natural pH of the dust suspension (∼4.3). About 40% of the total Cu was leached at pH3, yielding 107g/kg. Chalcanthite (CuSO4·5H2O), magnetite (Fe3O4) and delafossite (CuFeO2) represented the principal phases of the studied dust. In contact with water, chalcanthite was dissolved and hydrated Cu sulphates precipitated at pH4–7. Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and secondary Fe or Al phases were observed in the leached residues. Serious environmental impact due to leaching may occur in dust-contaminated soil systems in the vicinity of the smelting plants.

AB - The leaching behaviour of electrostatic precipitator dust from the Mufulira Cu smelter (Copperbelt, Zambia) was studied using a 48-h pH-static leaching experiment (CEN/TS 14997). The release of metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and changes in mineralogical composition using X-ray diffraction and PHREEQC-2 modelling were investigated in the pH range of 3–7. The highest concentrations of metals were released at pH 3–4.5, which encompasses the natural pH of the dust suspension (∼4.3). About 40% of the total Cu was leached at pH3, yielding 107g/kg. Chalcanthite (CuSO4·5H2O), magnetite (Fe3O4) and delafossite (CuFeO2) represented the principal phases of the studied dust. In contact with water, chalcanthite was dissolved and hydrated Cu sulphates precipitated at pH4–7. Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and secondary Fe or Al phases were observed in the leached residues. Serious environmental impact due to leaching may occur in dust-contaminated soil systems in the vicinity of the smelting plants.

U2 - 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.120

DO - 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.120

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0883-2927

VL - 26

SP - 263

EP - 266

JO - Applied Geochemistry

JF - Applied Geochemistry

ER -

Leaching of metals from copper smelter flue dust (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt)

Abstract

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