Improving the processing of low-grade copper ores (2024–2028)
Abstract:
The project aims to investigate the electrochemical interaction occurring during the grinding of low-grade copper
ores and understand how the interaction affects the recovery of copper minerals and rejection of waste minerals in
the subsequent separation process. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of minerals
processing and materials engineering using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project
include cost-effective new steel products used for grinding copper ores and new chemical solutions to selectively
reject waste minerals during mineral separation. This should significantly reduce the operating costs in copper
processing plants and increase the copper production from low-grade copper ores.