Sulfidation of chalcopyrite with elemental sulfur

The sulfidation of chalcopyrite concentrate with elemental sulfur was studied in the temperature range of 325 degreesC to 500 degreesC. The effects of temperature, time, and composition of the reactants on the sulfidation were determined. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and light microscopic analyses showed that the sulfidation of chalcopyrite forms CuS and FeS(2) at temperatures below 400 degreesC. However, at temperatures above 400 degreesC, Cu(5)FeS(6) and FeS(2) were formed. The sulfidation of chalcopyrite proceeds mainly through the gaseous phase, and temperature has a significant influence on the sulfidation rate in the range of 325 degreesC to 400 degreesC. The extraction of copper from the reacted material was determined by leaching in an H(2)SO(4)-NaCl-O(2) system. Over 90 pct of copper could be extracted by leaching at 100 degreesC for 60 minutes in the mentioned system.