The ACORGA OPT Extractant Series Comparative Studies ... · The ACORGA® OPT Extractant Series Comparative Studies against Aldoxime:Ketoxime Reagents. Topics I. Overview of OPTExtractants

The ACORGA® OPT Extractant Series

Comparative Studies againstAldoxime:Ketoxime Reagents

Topics

I. Overview of OPT Extractants

II. Side-by-side Pilot plant trial at KansanshiMining Plc, Solwezi, Zambia

III. Commercial trail on Kansanshi Low Grade circuit.

IV. Isotherm-based comparison High Cu concentration PLS

ACORGA OPT Extractants• Introduced as the “MAK” range at ALTA in 2006; name has

been changed to “OPT”

• OPT formulations contain Aldoxime, Ketoxime and anoptimised ratio of Cytec’s Ester Modifier which, relative to traditional Aldoxime:Ketoxime blends:

– Improve stripping characteristics & therefore generally improve copper transfer.

– Significantly improve copper : iron selectivity

– Exhibit similar physical behavior

Kansanshi Pilot Plant Trial• 30 day on-site side-by-side pilot trial of ACORGA OPT5510 &

LIX® 984N*

• Configuration 2E + 1S

• First 5 days spent commissioning circuit– Training of personnel; stabilization of circuits & liaison with analytical

laboratory; preparation of data sheets

• 21 day Data Collection Period followed– Organic continuous operation throughout– Low Recovery Conditions Extract O/A ratio of 1.2– Medium Recovery Conditions Extract O/A ratio of 1.5– High Recovery Conditions Extract O/A ratio of 1.8

• Final 4 days E1 stages inverted to aqueous continuous– Qualitative comparative stability measured– Ratios required to invert mixers from aqueous to organic continuous

measured *LIX is a registered Trademark of Cognis Corporation

Pilot Plant Parameters

Working volume of mixer: 0.029 m3

Mixer Retention Time 2.3 - 3.9 min

Impellor Tip Speed 250 - 300 m/min

Settler Rating 2.0 - 3.4 m3/m2/hr

Linear Velocity 0.28 - 0.37 cm/s

Organic Bed Depth 10-12 cm

Aqueous Bed Depth 18-20 cm

Settler RT Org 3.5 - 3.7 min

Settler RT Aqu 8 - 24 min

Mixer box temperature range: 39 – 41 0C

Solutions• HG PLS

• Spent Electrolyte

• Organic Phases

Cu(gpl)

Fe(gpl)

Fe2+(gpl)

Fe3+(gpl)

Mn(ppm)

Si(ppm)

H2SO4(gpl) pH

TSS(ppm)

Max 7.96 2.63 0.16 2.47 614 - 8.8 1.87 180

Min 5.27 0.59 0.33 0.26 408 - 3.4 1.18 36

Average 6.77 1.16 0.23 0.93 522 360 * 5.7 1.51 97

Cu(gpl)

H2SO4(gpl)

Fe(gpl)

Fe3+(gpl)

Mn(ppm)

Max 40.8 215 2.03 1.33 0.14Min 29.2 174 0.6 0.12 0.19

Average 35.3 193 1.28 0.77 0.16

Date ML - Cu Vol% ML – Cu Vol%(gpl) (gpl)

6-Sep 11.9 21.8 11.6 22.310-Sep 11.0 20.2 10.3 19.813-Sep 11.8 21.6 11.2 21.515-Sep 12.9 23.7 13.6 26.126-Sep 13.8 25.3 13.4 25.81-Oct 14.1 25.9 14.3 27.5

AVERAGE 12.6 23.1 12.4 23.8

ACORGA OPT 5510 LIX 984N

Kansanshi Pilot Plant Trial

• Physical Results

– Phase Disengagement Time • Measured twice per 12 hour shift

– Crud Band• Measured once per 12 hour shift

– Entrainment• Visual comparison

Phase Disengagement Times

ACORGA OPT5510 LIX984NStage min (s) max (s) min (s) max (s)

E1 50 140 65 190E2 90 180 90 170S1 30 60 25 40

Crud Comparison - Extract Stages

Daily Average

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

5-Sep

6-Sep

7-Sep

8-Sep

9-Sep

10-Se

p

11-Sep

12-Se

p

13-Se

p

14-Se

p

15-Se

p

16-Sep

17-Se

p

18-Se

p

19-Se

p

20-Se

p

21-Sep

22-Se

p

23-Se

p

24-Se

p

Inte

rfac

ial C

rud

(cm

)

ACORGA OPT5510 - E1

ACORGA OPT5510 - E2

LIX 984N - E1

LIX 984N - E2

Crud Comparison - Strip Stage

Daily Average

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5-Sep

6-Sep

7-Sep

8-Sep

9-Sep

10-Se

p11-

Sep12-

Sep13-

Sep14-

Sep15-

Sep

16-Se

p17-

Sep

18-Se

p19-

Sep20-

Sep

21-Se

p22-

Sep23-

Sep24-

Sep

Inte

rfac

ial C

rud

(cm

)

ACORGA OPT5510

LIX 984N

Crud Comparison – E1

E1

2

6 S

epte

mb

er 2

007

ACORGA OPT5510 - E1 LIX 984N - E1

05

Sep

tem

ber

200

7

Crud Comparison – E2

E2

05

Sep

tem

ber

200

7

LIX 984N

26

Sep

tem

ber

200

7

ACORGA OPT5510

Crud Comparison – S1

S1

05

Sep

tem

ber

200

7

ACORGA OPT5510 LIX 984N

2

6 S

epte

mb

er 2

007

E1 - Aqueous Continuous Operation

ACORGA OPT5510 E1 LIX 984N – E1

E1 - Aqueous Continuous Operation

After 10 minutes After 3 days

Kansanshi Pilot Plant Trial

• Metallurgical Comparison

– Copper Transfer• Metallurgical O/A vs. Flow O/A• Recoveries

– Copper : Iron Selectivity

Calculated Metallurgical O/A

0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.55.05.56.06.57.0

6 Sept

6 Sept

7 Sept

7 Sept

8 Sept

8 Sept

9 Sept

10 Sept

10 Sept

11 Sept

12 Sept

13 Sept

14 Sept

15 Sept

15 Sept

16 Sept

16 Sept

17 Sept

18 Sept

20 Sept

20 Sept

21 Sept

21 Sept

22 Sept

22 Sept

23 Sept

24 Sept

24 Sept

25 Sept

Assay date

Met

allu

rgic

al O

:A

OPT5510 Extract

OPT5510 Strip

LIX984N Extract

LIX984N Strip

(-) = excluded points

Ext O:A -1.2 Ext O:A -1.5 Ext O:A -1.8

Copper Recoveries – Pilot Plant

Copper Recovery Comparison

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

O/A:1.2 O/A: 1.5 O/A:1.8

Cop

per

Rec

over

y

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

Dif

fere

nce

(%)

23.0 vol% ACORGA OPT551023.8 vol% LIX 984NDifference (%)

Copper : Iron SelectivityAverage - Fe Loading vs %Cu Loading

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1.2 1.5 1.8

Extract O:A

% C

u Lo

adin

g

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Fe L

oadi

ng o

n O

rgan

ic (p

pm)

ACORGA OPT5510 - % Cu Loading

LIX984N - % Cu Loading

ACORGA OPT5510 - Fe Loading

LIX984N - Fe Loading

Kansanshi LG Commercial Trial

I. LG Train selected for the trial because of issue with poor copper/iron selectivity.

II. Configuration is series-parallel (2E+E+S)

III. Org Flow 1400m3/hr; Series PLS 500m3/hr (O/A 2.80); Parallel PLS 750m3/hr (O/A 1.87)

IV. Trial initiated towards the end of October 2008

V. Currently ACORGA OPT5510 comprises 30-32% of the extractant composition (total is 26 vol%).

VI. Data range from May 2008 to Feb 7th 2009

Kansanshi LG PLS and Raffinates

LOW GRADE PLS Cu (g/l) vs. Raffinate Cu (g/l)

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

5/12 5/26 6/9 6/23 7/7 7/21 8/4 8/18 9/1 9/15 9/29 10/13 10/27 11/10 11/24 12/8 12/22 1/5 1/19 2/2 2/16

PL

S C

u (

g/l)

-0.10

0.10

0.30

0.50

0.70

0.90

1.10

1.30

1.50

Raf

fin

ate

Co

pp

er (

g/l)

LG PLS gpl Cu weighted LG raffinate3 per. Mov. Avg. (weighted LG raffinate) 3 per. Mov. Avg. (LG PLS gpl Cu)

Kansanshi LG circuit: Chemical Iron Transfer

Organic Fe Transfer (ppm) vs. Weighted Raffinate Cu (g/l)

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

5/12 6/2 6/23 7/14 8/4 8/25 9/15 10/6 10/27 11/17 12/8 12/29 1/19 2/9

Org

Fe

(pp

m)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

Raf

f. C

u (

g/l)

E1-S1 Org Fe(ppm) weighted LG raffinate3 per. Mov. Avg. (E1-S1 Org Fe(ppm)) 3 per. Mov. Avg. (weighted LG raffinate)

Kansanshi LG circuit: Chemical Iron Transfer

Organic Fe Transfer (ppm) vs. E2 Raffinate Acid (g/l)

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

5/12 5/26 6/9 6/23 7/7 7/21 8/4 8/18 9/1 9/15 9/29 10/13 10/27 11/10 11/24 12/8 12/22 1/5 1/19 2/2 2/16

Org

Fe

(pp

m)

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

Raf

f. C

u (g

/l)

E1-S1 Org Fe(ppm) LG raffinate E2 gpl H2SO43 per. Mov. Avg. (E1-S1 Org Fe(ppm)) 3 per. Mov. Avg. (LG raffinate E2 gpl H2SO4)

Kansanshi LG circuit: Expected Trend

PLS 3.96 g/l Cu, pH 1.8, 2.0 g/l Fe(III) 25 vol% Percentage ACORGA OPT5510

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

E1 Org Copper loading (%)

E1

Org

Fe

Lo

adin

g (

pp

m)

0%

100%

LG Commercial Trial : Phase Disengagement Time & Mixer Temperature

LG E1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

10/19 10/24 10/29 11/3 11/8 11/13 11/18 11/23 11/28 12/3 12/8 12/13 12/18 12/23 12/28 1/2 1/7 1/12 1/17 1/22 1/27 2/1 2/6 2/11 2/16 2/21 2/26 3/3

seco

nds

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

oC

BREAK TIME (s) TEMP


LG E2

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

10/19

10/24

10/29

11/3 11/8 11/13

11/18

11/23

11/28

12/3 12/8 12/13

12/18

12/23

12/28

1/2 1/7 1/12 1/17 1/22 1/27 2/1 2/6 2/11 2/16 2/21 2/26 3/3

seco

nds

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

oC

BREAK TIME (s) TEMP


L G E 3

0

50

1 0 0

1 5 0

2 0 0

2 5 0

3 0 0

3 5 0

4 0 0

10/23 1 /17

seco

nds

3 4

3 5

3 6

3 7

3 8

3 9

4 0

4 1

oC

B R E A K T I M E ( s ) T E M P


LG S1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

10/19 10/24 10/29 11/3 11/8 11/13 11/18 11/23 11/28 12/3 12/8 12/13 12/18 12/23 12/28 1/2 1/7 1/12 1/17 1/22 1/27 2/1 2/6 2/11 2/16 2/21 2/26 3/3

seco

nds

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

oC

BREAK TIME (s) TEMP

LG Trail: Physical Performance

• The rate of crud generation has been similar to the pre-addition rate as well as the current rate of formation in the other two trains.

• Reagent consumption has been in-line with pre-addition levels; reagent concentration is maintained at 26vol%.

High Cu Conc. Isotherm Comparison

• Organic Phase:

• PLS & Spent Electrolyte

ReagentMass of Reagent (g) made up to 1000ml with diluent

Max Load (g/l)

Uptake(g/l/vol%)

Conc. (vol%)

ACORGA OPT5540 287.1 17.12 0.545 31.4LIX 973N 287.1 17.57 0.54 32.5

Cu (g/l) pHSulfuric Acid

(g/l) Total Fe (g/l) Fe (II) (g/l) Fe (III) (g/l)

Primary PLS 43.3 0.8 - 45.88 23.6 22.27Secondary PLS 7.4 1.55 - 11.7 6.5 5.2

Spent Electrolyte 34 - 176.4 - - -

Comparison of performance of equal masses of ACORGA®OPT5540 and LIX®973N

High Cu PLS Isotherm Comparison

• Circuit Configuration– 3 Primary Extr.+2 Secondary Extr.+2 Strip– 14% of the organic flow split to the

secondary extract; recombined with rest of org flow entering the primary extract section

• Stage Efficiency– 95% throughout

• Recovery ComparisonReagent

HG Raff (g/l)

LG Raff (g/l)

HG Cu Rec.(%)

LG Cu Rec.(%)

Org. Cu Loading (g/l)

Strip Efficiency (%)

Net Cu T/fer (g/l/vol%)

ACORGA OPT5540 13.1 0.4 69.5 94.4 93.8 68.7 0.32LIX 973N 14.9 0.6 65.4 92.1 99.1 55.2 0.29


• Comparison of high Cu Extract Isotherms


• Comparison of low Cu Extract Isotherms


• Comparison of Strip Isotherms


• 31.4 vol% ACORGA OPT5540


• 32.5 vol% LIX 973N

High Cu PLS Isotherm Comparison• 31.4 vol% ACORGA OPT5540


• 32.5 vol% LIX 973N

Final Comments

• Under most conditions the ACORGA OPT range ofextractants offers direct cost savings when compared with their aldoxime:ketoxime counterpart.

• ACORGA OPT5510 offers both improved copper transfer and improved copper:iron selectivity relative toaldoxime:ketoxime reagents, both in heap-leach and agitated-leach applications.

• Cytec will continue to conduct side-by-side pilot trials at sites around the world to demonstrate site-specific benefits.

Acknowledgements

• The authors would like to thankKansanshi Mining Plc staff for their valued assistance and support firstly during the pilot plant trial and now during the LG commercial trial.

Questions ?

Documents

The ACORGA OPT Extractant Series Comparative Studies ... · The ACORGA® OPT Extractant Series Comparative Studies against Aldoxime:Ketoxime Reagents. Topics I. Overview of OPTExtractants