Thermodynamic analysis of ox-idized copper minerals interaction with modified reagent

Abstract

Practicality of preliminary sulphidization of oxidized copper minerals for the purpose of oxidized ore concen-tration is shown in the paper. For the first time the thermodynamic analysis was carried out for interaction of modified sulphidizing reagent with major components of oxidized copper ore — malachite, azurite and chrys-ocolla. Ammonium polysulfide formed in the solution of sodium polysulfide and ammonium sulfate was used as modified sulphidizing reagent. Temperature dependence of standard Gibbs energy for the reaction of ammo-nium polysulfide with oxidized copper minerals was determined. It was noted that standard Gibbs energy for malachite and azurite interaction with modified reagent has negative values in the temperature range of 298,15–373 К, thus showing high probability of interaction, which grows together with temperature. Interaction with chrysocolla is less active than with malachite and azurite but is still possible at mentioned temperature, with interaction probability again proportional to temperature. Thus, the possibility of oxidized copper minerals sulphidization with modified sulphidizing reagent is determined in the research.