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Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014.

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Main Author: Bello, Yusuf O.
Other Authors: Dorfling, Christie
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2015
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access_status_str Open Access
author Bello, Yusuf O.
author2 Dorfling, Christie
author_browse Bello, Yusuf O.
Dorfling, Christie
author_facet Dorfling, Christie
Bello, Yusuf O.
author_sort Bello, Yusuf O.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/95895
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:49.380Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2015
publishDateRange 2015
publishDateSort 2015
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/95895 Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions Bello, Yusuf O. Dorfling, Christie Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Department of Process Engineering. Tellurium -- Metallurgy Selenium -- Metallurgy Precipitation (Chemistry) Copper sulfate Leaching Metals -- Refining Electrometallurgy Electrowinning UCTD Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The copper sulphate leach solutions produced during the final pressure leach stages in base metal refinery processes contain low concentrations of other precious metals (OPMs, namely Rh, Ru and Ir ) and impurities in addition to the base metals (BMs) of interest. Se and Te impurities, in particular, must be removed from the leach solution before it is fed to copper electrowinning because these species have adverse effects on electrowinning efficiency. Currently, these elements are being precipitated from the leach solution with sulphurous acid. Se precipitation is satisfactory but Te removal still proves challenging. Previous studies have shown that tellurium can either be precipitated as cuprous telluride from copper sulphate solutions by reduction with sulphurous acid alone, or by the addition of SO2 as a precipitating agent and metallic copper as an additional precipitating agent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different process variables on Te and Se recovery in order to propose operating conditions at which increased tellurium precipitation can be achieved with minimal co-precipitation of base metals of interest (notably Cu and Ni). This would also aid in the development of a better understanding of tellurium and selenium precipitation mechanisms in CuSO4-H2SO4 medium. AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Die kopersulfaat logingsoplossing wat gedurende die finale druklogingstadia in basis metaal raffinaderye produseer word bevat, behalwe vir die basis metale van belang, ook lae konsentrasies ander edelmetale (AEM, naamlik Rh, Ru, en Ir) sowel as onsuiwerhede. Se en Te onsuiwerhede, in die besonder, moet vanuit die logingsoplossing verwyder word voordat die oplossing na die koper elektrowinning gevoer word omdat hierdie spesies negatiewe effekte op die elektrowinning effektiwiteit het. Hierdie elemente word tans met swaweligsuur vanuit die logingsoplossing gepresipiteer. Se presipitasie is voldoende, maar die Te verwydering bly steeds problematies. Vorige studies het getoon dat tellurium as kuprotelluried vanuit kopersulfaat oplossings presipiteer kan word deur middel van reduksie met swaweligsuur alleen, of met die byvoeging van SO2 as presipiteermiddel en metallieke koper as addisionele presipiteermiddel. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die effekte van verskillende prosesveranderlikes op Te en Se presipitasie te ondersoek ten einde bedryfstoestande voor te stel wat verbeterde tellurium presipitasie toelaat met minimale kopresipitasie van basis metale van belang (hoofsaaklik Cu en Ni). Dit sal ook bydra tot die ontwikkeling van ʼn beter begrip van die tellurium en selenium presipitasie meganisme in ʼn CuSO4-H2SO4 medium. Masters 2015-01-13T11:48:11Z 2015-01-13T11:48:11Z 2014-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95895 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xl, 178 p. : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Tellurium -- Metallurgy
Selenium -- Metallurgy
Precipitation (Chemistry)
Copper sulfate
Leaching
Metals -- Refining
Electrometallurgy
Electrowinning
UCTD
Bello, Yusuf O.
Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
title Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
title_full Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
title_fullStr Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
title_full_unstemmed Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
title_short Tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
title_sort tellurium and selenium precipitation from copper sulphate solutions
topic Tellurium -- Metallurgy
Selenium -- Metallurgy
Precipitation (Chemistry)
Copper sulfate
Leaching
Metals -- Refining
Electrometallurgy
Electrowinning
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95895
work_keys_str_mv AT belloyusufo telluriumandseleniumprecipitationfromcoppersulphatesolutions