Effect of iron oxidation state for copper recovery from nickel laterite leach solution using chelating resin

Abstract

The goal of this work was to study the effect of iron oxidation state for Cu(II) recovery. Two different solutions of nickel laterite leach were prepared with Fe(III) and with Fe(II) for the experiments. FTIR of the chelating resin were analyzed before and after metals adsorption. Kinetics and thermodynamics of metals adsorption were studied in batch. Column experiments were performed to study the effect of iron oxidation state on Cu(II) adsorption. Results indicated that Cu(II) recovery was strongly related to iron oxidation state. Cu(II) adsorption was higher in solution with Fe(II) than with Fe(III). Temperature decreased Cu(II) adsorption. Column experiments showed that Fe(II) reached rapidly the equilibrium during the feeding step, and it was lower adsorbed than Fe(III).