Techno-economic evaluation of BASF’s new high-temperature solvent extraction reagent

Abstract

BASF Mining Solutions has developed a new-generation copper solvent extraction reagent that offers significant benefits over standard extractants currently available to the industry. As the name suggests, the new high-temperature (HT) extractant can be used at a higher operating temperature, but also exhibits significantly lower degradation rates, greater copper-to-iron selectivity, and is totally nitration-proof compared with the standard extractants. Pilot-plant trials have also shown that lower aqueous-inorganic entrainment can be achieved. This paper investigates the techno-economic benefit of using the HT extractant as an alternative to the standard extractant in a high-temperature application. The results of the technical evaluation showed that the use of the HT extractant reduces the extractant addition requirements and bleed volume from copper electrowinning; this smaller bleed requirement further reduces acid and limestone consumption, leading to a reduction in valuable metal losses. The results of the economic evaluation showed that the use of the HT extractant represents significant cost savings over that of the standard extractant.