Stoyan Gaydardzhiev

Copper extraction from coarsely ground printed circuit boards using moderate thermophilic bacteria in a rotating-drum reactor

The current work reports on a new approach for copper bioleaching from Printed Circuit Board (PCB) by moderate thermophiles in a rotating-drum reactor. Initially leaching of PCB was carried out in shake flasks to assess the effects of particle size (-208μm+147μm), ferrous iron concentration (1.25-10.0g/L) and pH (1.5-2.5) on copper leaching using mesophile and moderate thermophile microorganisms. Only at a relatively low solid content (10.0g/L) complete copper extraction was achieved from the particle size investigated. Conversely, high copper extractions were possible from coarse-ground PCB (20mm-long) working with increased solids concentration (up to 25.0g/L). Because there was as the faster leaching kinetics at 50°C Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans was selected for experiments in a rotating-drum reactor with the coarser-sized PCB sheets. Under optimal conditions, copper extraction reached 85%, in 8days and microscopic observations by SEM-EDS of the on non-leached and leached material suggested that metal dissolution from the internal layers was restricted by the fact that metal surface was not entirely available and accessible for the solution in the case of the 20mm-size sheets.

Separation of Copper and Zinc by Solvent Extraction During Reprocessing of Flotation Tailings

Results from the solvent extraction of copper and zinc from pregnant solutions after bioleaching of re-floated tailings from the Kipushi concentrator in DR of Congo are presented. LIX984N has been used as extractant for copper, while D2EHPA as such for zinc, following prior removal of the ferric iron via precipitation. The McCabe-Thiele diagrams constructed for Cu and Zn extraction have theoretically suggested the need for two stages for copper and one for zinc. Stripping these metals to the aqueous phase by sulphuric acid has yielded rich electrolytes with 48.5 g/L copper and 85.5 g/L zinc. Thus, copper and zinc could be further recovered from the stripped solutions by electrolysis.

Stabilization of Aqueous Silicon Nitride Suspension with Dolapix A88

The dispersing phenomenon of silicon nitride suspension has been investigated systematically by measuring surface charge density, sediment volume, and turbidity of the suspension. Dolapix A88 has been used as dispersant to improve the stability of the suspension, and assessed through measurement of the specific surface charge of the Si3N4 system. The isoelectric point (IEP) of Si3N4 powder has been found to be at pHiep=6.91, and there was no shift in IEP due to the presence of dispersant, indicating that the interaction between the powder and the dispersant Dolapix A88 is purely physisorbing in nature. Good agreement has been observed among dispersion characteristics, surface charge, and streaming potential inflection. The article also describes the selection and optimization of the dispersant in controlling the stability of an aqueous suspension of Si3N4. It can be concluded from this investigation that the PCD technique for measurement of specific surface charge can be conveniently used for the assessment of dispersibility of ceramic suspensions in dilute as well as in concentrated suspensions.

Evaluation of Dispersant Efficiency for Aqueous Alumina Slurries by Concurrent Techniques

This article reports on results from a comparative study assessing a suitable method for dispersant efficiency evaluation in the case of water‐based suspensions of ultrafine alumina stabilized by a commonly used dispersant, Dolapix CE64. The following measurements were evaluated: zeta potential, specific surface charge, sedimentation behavior, and capillary suction time. The suitability of each of the tested techniques is discussed. A good agreement between the zeta potential and the specific surface charge as a way to determine the optimal dose of dispersant is documented.

Effects of process water recycling during flotation of copper and cobalt oxidised ores from Luiswishi deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo

AbstractLaboratory flotation tests with copper–cobalt oxidized ore from the Luiswishi deposit in the Katanga province were done using process water being recycled to different degrees. Grade and recovery of copper and cobalt were followed by 10, 20 and 80% process to fresh water addition with the results from these conditions being compared to those without water recycling. When process water was recycled at 10%, 83.7% copper and 84.1% cobalt were recovered at the rougher stage bringing the cleaner stage to a concentrate with recovery of 53 and 60% for copper and cobalt, respectively. However, recycling process water, up to 20 and 80%, has reduced the recovery of copper in the final concentrate to 23 and 6%, respectively, and of cobalt to 46 and 27%, respectively. Monitoring of dissolved oxygen content, pulp pH and Es potential during flotation, coupled with thermodynamic estimation of the predominant chemical compounds in the system, has enabled to evaluate the effects on flotation from the undesirable c...