Copper cathode
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| Design name / Project: | Copper cathode |
| Factory capacity / Project: | 50000 TPA |
| Geolocation of the project location: | 36 |
| Project Start Date: | 17 August 2017 |
| Employment rate: | 450 |
| Land area: | 50000TPA |
The largest copper production unit in the world by Bioleaching Tank method is under construction in Iran by Babak Iranian Copper Company, with a nominal annual production capacity of 50,000 tons of cathodic copper, in 23th km north of Shahr-E-Babak city in Kerman province. Lab studies, pilot and process design of the unit have been done by EPCM, a Canadian company, and the executive operations of the project started on 17th Aug, 2011 and in 2018 the first phase (30% of the capacity) was launched.
In this method, copper cathode is produced by using thermophile microorganisms in acidic solution and by dissolving sulfide copper concentrate. Then, using the conventional method of solvent extraction and electrowinning, copper with A LME grade (99.995%) is produced.
| Copper Cathode Plant | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 50000 TPA |
| Location | 23th km north of Shahr-E-Babak city |
| Product | Copper cathode grade A |
| Production method | Bioleaching Tank |
| Area | 500,000 m2 |
Advantages of using copper concentrate Bioleaching Tank process over Pyrometallurgy method:
• Ability to use copper concentrates with different elemental compounds and without restrictions on input grade
• A process that is more environment friendly and with a low level of pollution. In the process of pyrometallurgy, significant amounts of SO2 gas are produced, which cause environment pollution. To eliminate this pollution, building a sulfuric acid production plant is a must, whereas in this method sulfuric acid is used as a raw material.
• Compared to pyrometallurgical projects, the cost of investment in this method is lower (currently the construction of smelting and refining units with a capacity of less than 200,000 tons per year is not economical)
• Simplicity of control conditions of operation and lower operational risk
• Total energy consumption, including electricity and fossil fuels, will be reduced in this way.
• The efficiency of metallurgical operations in optimal conditions is 92%, while in this method the design is based on 97% of efficiency.
• Possibility of recovering gold (about 150 kg per year) and silver from production waste
The technical knowledge of this process is provided by EPCM Canada to Iranian Babak Copper Company and its scientific and technical license in the world is participatory at the possession of IBCCO and EPCM Canada.