This seminar will take place on June 26 at 15:30. The seminar will be in a hybrid format with:
- in-person session in the IST Alameda Campus, Department of Engineering and Management's Meeting Room
- online, via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/96572536874?pwd=RSbqm53vUVOHKJ6UMBX1vcR4600VQr.1
Our seminars are free to attend and open to everyone. Please share with whomever may be interested.
Summary
The depletion of oxidized copper ores and declining ore grades have driven the mining industry to seek alternative ways to process primary sulphides, such as chalcopyrite, via hydrometallurgical routes. However, traditional leaching based on sulphate faces significant challenges due to surface passivation, which slows down the extraction kinetics. To overcome this, alternative media using chlorides and organic additives like isopropanol (IPA) have emerged as highly promising technologies. Chloride ions alter the morphology of the passivating sulphur layer, increasing porosity and facilitating the diffusion of the leaching solution. Concurrently, the addition of IPA acts as a stabilizing agent for hydrogen peroxide and solvent to sulphur layer pasivation, significantly enhancing copper dissolution rates. This seminar presents a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluating the environmental performance of these advanced hydrometallurgical processes. Following the four steps of ISO 14040 methodology, the study quantifies the environmental footprint of both chloride-based and IPA-assisted leaching. By establishing a "cradle-to-gate" system boundary, we identify the main environmental hotspots associated with reagent consumption, energy use, and operational conditions. Ultimately, this LCA provides a rigorous, quantitative environmental profile of these novel leaching techniques. It not only highlights opportunities for eco-efficient process optimization but also establishes the necessary baseline for future comparative studies against conventional pyrometallurgical routes, supporting strategic decisions toward greener mining practices.
Speaker's bio
Chemical engineer with over 13 years of expertise in hydrometallurgy, biotechnology, and project management. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Mineral Process Engineering at the Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile, and the founder of Ecoleach, a startup dedicated to developing advanced chalcopyrite leaching technologies for green mining.
Personal homepage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretocordova/