Date: 26 June
Time: 3.30 p.m.
Venue: Técnico – Alameda Campus and Online
More information: Official Website
«The Centre for Management Studies of Instituto Superior Técnico (CEGIST) is pleased to announce the seminar “A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Chloride-Based and IPA-Assisted Chalcopyrite Leaching” by Loreto Córdova (Universidad de Antofagasta), as part of CEGIST’s seminar series.
This seminar will take place on 26 June at 3.30 p.m. in a hybrid format:
- in-person session at Alameda Campus, in the Department of Engineering and Management’s Meeting Room;
- online, via Zoom
The depletion of oxidized copper ores and declining ore grades have driven the mining industry to seek alternative ways to process primary sulphides, such as chalcopyrite, via hydrometallurgical routes.
However, traditional leaching based on sulphate faces significant challenges due to surface passivation, which slows down the extraction kinetics. To overcome this, alternative media using chlorides and organic additives like isopropanol (IPA) have emerged as highly promising technologies. Chloride ions alter the morphology of the passivating sulphur layer, increasing porosity and facilitating the diffusion of the leaching solution. Concurrently, the addition of IPA acts as a stabilizing agent for hydrogen peroxide and solvent to sulphur layer pasivation, significantly enhancing copper dissolution rates.
This seminar presents a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluating the environmental performance of these advanced hydrometallurgical processes. Following the four steps of ISO 14040 methodology, the study quantifies the environmental footprint of both chloride-based and IPA-assisted leaching. By establishing a “cradle-to-gate” system boundary, we identify the main environmental hotspots associated with reagent consumption, energy use, and operational conditions.
Ultimately, this LCA provides a rigorous, quantitative environmental profile of these novel leaching techniques. It not only highlights opportunities for eco-efficient process optimization but also establishes the necessary baseline for future comparative studies against conventional pyrometallurgical routes, supporting strategic decisions toward greener mining practices.
CEGIST seminars are free to attend and open to the public.»
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