Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION SELE CATHODE QUALITY BACKGROUND NEW GUAR REAGENT TESTWORK RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
GENERAL INFORMATION
The plant produces about 37 Kton/year of cathode in San Francisco and around 10 Kton/year of cathode in Los Bronces EW Plant.
In addition, the unit is equipped with a copper sulphate pentahydrate equivalents to 3 Kton/year of fine copper.
ROM ore is dumped with grades below the cut-off grade for the concetrator: 0.15 0.75%Cu tot and 80% chalcopyrite (bioleaching process)
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SULPHATE PLANT
200 m3/h
COPPER SULPHATE
65 60 55 50 45
| I (A)
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
40 35 30 25 20 15
%Off grade 19 27 28 53 60 80
Higher %off grade is due to much higher cathode weight than required, specially at the highest current density Have an ambicious action plan Improve and implement best practices operational and housekeeping EW plant Cathode plant and Metallurgical Department, decided to test a new guar reagent (C) in order to improve cathode quality
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Parameters to Keep Quality Temperature of Washing Water to Cathodes [ C] Temperature of Washing Water Chamber to Cathodes [ C] Temperature Hot Water Tank [ C] Temperature Electrolyte Income Cell [ C] Poor Electrolyte Cu+2 [gpl] Poor Electrolyte H+ [gpl] pH of Washing Water Chamber to Cathodes Pressure of Washing Water Cathodes [Psi] Especific Flow Rate to Cells [m3/hr/m2] Weight Laminate to Harvest [Kg] Frecuency to Cleaning Same Cell [month] Dosification Guar Reagent [gr/t Cu fine] Dosification Cobalt Sulphate [ppm] Poor Electrolyte Cl [ppm] Poor Electrolyte Mn [ppm]
San Francisco Plant > 75 > 70 > 40 > 55 > 39 165 to 180 >6 > 80 > 0.2 33 to 37 max 12 > 90 % Curr.Density > 80 % Curr.Density 10 to 20 max 90
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"B"
"C"
Low molecular weight carbohydrate, dextrin type, oligosaccharide group Water 4 m3 99% > 5C 0,5 hours Not required Mechanical or Neumatic
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Water 8m
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"A"
EFFECTOS ON SX OPERATIONALS PROBLEMS CATHODE DEPOSIT ESTRUCTURE CATHODES NODULATION CATHODE LOOK ACID MIST DPRESS CURRENT DENSITY MEASUREMENT METHOD None
"B"
None
"C"
None None Columnar None Bright 10%
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Low temperatures tend to form Easy form gel to blocks pumps gel and pipes Columnar Ocassional Opaque None < 400 A/m None
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Preparation tank
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RESULTS
Main parameters were graphed between April and June 22nd of 2010
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Date
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Date
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S (ppm)
Apr-10
May-10 Date
May-10
Jun-10
Jul-10
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Apr-10
May-10
Jun-10
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Average week S content before the test was 6.9 and 22.4 ppm and 14 ppm as median.
After test, average S content was 2.9 and 9.3 ppm and 6.3 as median.
decreased after started test. They have opposite effects and overall effect is neutralized
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CONCLUSIONS
Highest current density in copper EW plant, increase off grade quality in cathodes and increase possibilty to have unsafe operation
Keeping operational and metallurgical parameters, ensurance good quality and safety operation
Decision to test a new guar reagent early this year (C), is a good complement for help to improve quality cathode, reducing S content
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In order to validate the results obtained, it has been recommended to continue with 100% addition of C to EW plant, and follow so close sulfur content and any effect that residual product may have on the SX plant
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Thank you!
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