THE SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF IRON FROM A CHLORIDE LEACH SOLUTION
CONTAINING PRECIOUS, RARE AND BASE METALS.
ABSTRACT
David Dreisinger
TriMetals Mining Inc.
580 Hornby Street, Suite 880
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B6
Niels Verbaan
SGS Minerals – Lakefield Site
85 Concession Street
Lakefield, Ontario, K0L 2H0
Ron Molnar
MetNetH2O
Independent Consultants in Hydrometallurgy
1816 Parkwood Circle
Peterborough, ON, K9J 8C2, CANADA
An acid chloride leach solution was generated from treatment of an ore containing value elements such as
silver, gold, indium, gallium, copper, zinc and lead. Iron was also co-extracted into solution as a ferric
chloride species. Iron extraction was a significant component of the overall acid consumption of the
process. The recovery of iron by solvent extraction and water stripping was investigated. Tributyl
phosphate (TBP) was very effective at recovering iron from the leachate. The water strip solution could be
decomposed to produce ferric oxide (hematite) and hydrochloric acid for recycle.
KEYWORDS
Precious, Rare, Base, Metals, Iron, Solvent Extraction, Loading, Stripping, Tributyl Phosphate