Projects

Copper cathode project:

The greatest Tank Bioleaching method in copper cathode production in the world is now constructed by Iranian Babak Copper Co. on a location 23 km away from Shahr-E-Babak city with nominal capacity of 50,000 tons a year. The chemical studies, pilot and process designing are done by EPCM, a Canadian company, and its executional operations have been started on Aug-17-2011 and hopefully will be inaugurated in mid-2016.

In this method, copper cathode is achieved by the use of thermophile micro-organisms in acidic solutions and through sulfide copper concentrate solution. Then through common method of solution extraction and electrowinning the LME grade A (99.99%) is produced.

Advantages of Tank Bioleaching versus Pyrometallurgy method:

• Capability of using copper concentrates with different elements and with no limitation in entry carat

• More environmental adaptability with less pollution. In Pyrometallurgy process a remarkable amount of SO2 gas is generated which pollutes the environment. To eliminate this pollution, it is necessary to build a sulfuric acid factory whereas in this method sulfuric acid is used as the raw material.

• In contrast with Pyrometallurgy projects, lesser capital investment is needed (nowadays it is uneconomical to establish foundry and refinery units with capacities less than 200,000 tons a year)

• Simpler operation control conditions and lower operational risk

• The whole energy consumption including electricity and hydrocarbonic fuels is drastically diminished.

• The efficiency of Pyrometallurgy operation, in optimum conditions, is 92% whereas in this method it is 97%

• Possibility of gold and silver recovery from scraps (150 kg a year)

The technical knowledge of this process has been bought from EPCM Canada and its scientific and technology license is preserved for EPCM Canada and this factory as participants.

Chah Firouzeh copper concentrator plant