Design of 3 tons daily SX-EW Copper extraction plant
3 tons daily SX-EW Copper Extraction Plant is most economical investment of small copper leaching plant, the annual procucing capacity of copper cathode will be 1000 tons. This is the max capacity for this min investment, less than this capacity, the investment will be similar. It means that the investment is minum, but producing capacity is maxium.
Solvent Extraction and Electrowinning (SX-EW Copper extraction) is a hydrometallurgical process widely used to extract copper from low-grade oxide or sulfide ores, leachates, or mine waste. This method is particularly advantageous for ores unsuitable for traditional pyrometallurgical smelting due to low copper content or environmental constraints. SX-EW plants have become a cornerstone of modern copper production, offering cost-efficiency, sustainability, and flexibility.
Key Process Stages of SX-EW Copper extraction:
1. Leaching:
– Copper ore is first crushed and stacked in heaps or placed in vats.
– A dilute sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) solution is sprayed over the ore, dissolving copper into a pregnant leach solution (PLS).
2. Solvent Extraction (SX):
– The PLS is mixed with an organic solvent (e.g., hydroxyoxime) in mixer-settlers.
– The solvent selectively binds with copper ions, separating them from impurities (e.g., iron, arsenic).
– The copper-rich organic phase is then stripped using a strong acid, producing a high-purity copper sulfate electrolyte.
3. Electrowinning (EW):
– The purified electrolyte is pumped into electrowinning cells containing inert lead-alloy anodes and stainless-steel cathodes.
– Direct current is applied, causing copper ions to plate onto cathodes as 99.99% pure copper metal.
– Cathodes are harvested, melted, and cast into marketable forms (e.g., wire rods, ingots).
The SX-EW Copper extraction process revolutionized copper extraction by enabling economical and eco-friendly production from low-grade resources. As demand for copper surges (driven by EVs, renewables, and infrastructure), SX-EW plants will remain critical to meeting global needs sustainably.
Please refer below actual photos that our engineer designed plant in Zambia, if you are interested in this investment, please feel free to contact us.
Copper ore crushing and leaching:
Pool leaching:
Extracting process:
Extraction & Stripping extraction to get pure Copper Sulfate:
Pure Copper Sulfate:
Electrowinning process:
Cathode Copper, the purity can more than 99.99%:
Our metal extractants as below, if you need any kind, please ask us:
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- DY319 high efficiency nickel cobalt co-extraction extractant for battery recycle, can take out nickel and cobalt together from Lithium battery electrolyte.
- DY272 Nickel cobalt separation extractant, it can take cobalt out from nickel cobalt solution, then leave pure nickel.
- DY988N/DY973N/DY902/DY5640 copper solvent extraction reagent.
- P507 non-ferrous metal extractant for copper, zinc, cobalt-nickel, cadmium, gold-silver, platinum group metals, rare earths and so on.
- DY377 efficient nickel and diamond separation extractant.
- DY366 Scandium extractant.
- DY316 Lithium extractant.
