Specific aeration speed in the leaching of the Caron process: results on an industrial scale

The major objective of this study is to analyze the leachate trends of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) with their increase when the specific speed of aeration increases (new parameter Qa). An experimental work was carried out on a scale of a Production demonstration Unit at Punta Gorda Leaching Plant. For the experimental conditions, an operational implementation methodology of the Qa parameter is established in m³ / (t.min); the graphical trends of the leachates and their increases decrease when increasing Qa. The results of the even correlation coefficients of leachate levels of Ni and Copper show that both increase when the proportion of the -R (NH3 / CO2) values also increase the mineral number and the NH3 concentration, while decreasing when the mass flows -R (L/S) and the Qa increase in the contact tanks of the reduced ore with the liquor.