Abstract
Cobre Las Cruces has developed a novel and advanced concept named “Poly Metallurgical Refinery (PMR)” able to treat efficiently polymetallic bulk concentrates and low-grade and dirty concentrates that cannot be processed in conventional refineries. For instance, metal content of treated bulk concentrates range: 2–4% Cu, 5–10% Zn, 3–5% Pb, and 100–200 ppm Ag. The “PMR” concept is based on smart and suitable integration of innovative hydrometallurgical technologies including leaching, purification, and metals winning, aiming to produce on-site several refined or added value metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ag. Integrated hydrometallurgical technologies developed by Cobre Las Cruces has been tested and validated at pilot plant scale, feeding 300–400 kg/h of bulk concentrates; gathered results have been very positive and new PMR Technologies present many advantages versus conventional technologies, e.g. increased mineral resources efficiency, higher metals recovery, and minimum environmental footprint. In short, PMR Technologies represent a great technological breakthrough for the twenty-first century mining-metallurgical industry aiming to develop a more robust and sustainable business to benefit efficiently complex and polymetallic ores.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cusano G et al (2017) Best available techniques (BAT), Reference document for the non-ferrous metals industries, industrial emissions directive 2010/75/EU integrated pollution prevention and control. Publications of the European Union. Chapters 3, 5 and 6. ISBN 9789279696558
Buschow KHJ et al. (2001) Encyclopedia of materials: science and technology, 1st edn. Elsevier. ISBN 9780080431529 (2001)
Alvear G, Löbbus M (2018) Arsenic management for the copper smelting industry. Int Semin Impurities Copper Raw Mater Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), October 17 (2018)
Delgado E, Frias C, Gotor J (2013) Las Cruces copper plant start-up: beyond design performance through process improvements implementation. In: Proceedings of Copper’2013 International Conference, Santiago, Chile, 1–4 December, pp. 25–42
Miller JD, McDonough PJ, Portillo HQ (1981) Electrochemistry in silver catalysed ferric sulfate leaching of chalcopyrite. In: Kuhn MC (ed) Process and fundamentals considerations of selected hydrometallurgical systems. SME-AIME, 27, pp 327–338
Cordoba EM, Muñoz JA, Blazquez ML, Gonzalez F, Ballester A (2009) Comparative kinetic study of the silver-catalyzed chalcopyrite leaching at 35 and 68 ℃. Int J Min Process 92:137–143 (Elsevier)
Frias C, Vera E, Romero A, Blanco J (2015) Flotation and hydroprocessing of bulk concentrates from Las Cruces Mine. In: Lead and zinc 2015 international symposium, Dusseldorf, Germany, pp 549–560, 14–17 June
Frias C, Blanco J, Vera E, Romero A, Gotor J, Sanchez F (2017) Polymetallic ores hydroprocessing at Cobre Las Cruces. Flotation pilot plant outcomes. In: European metallurgical conference EMC’2017, Leipzig, Germany, 25–28 June, pp 715–726
Acknowledgements
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No: 689515.
The authors wish to express their gratitude to Cobre Las Cruces company for authorising publication of this paper regarding Poly Metallurgical Refinery (PMR) Project developed in its pilot plant facilities located near Seville city, in Spain.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
About this paper
Cite this paper
Frias, C., Gotor, J., Sanchez, F., Blanco, J., Moreno, N., Vera, E. (2020). Advanced Concept “Poly Metallurgical Refinery” Developed by Cobre Las Cruces. In: Siegmund, A., Alam, S., Grogan, J., Kerney, U., Shibata, E. (eds) PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium on Lead and Zinc Processing. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_82
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_82
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-37069-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-37070-1
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)