Study on the effect of low-energy milling work and mechanoleaching on the chlorination of chalcopyrite

In this research, chlorination of chalcopyrite in a low-energy mill was carried out in order to convert chalcopyrite to copper chloride. Chalcopyrite milling was performed at ambient temperature and in different times and dry chlorine gas atmosphere. Also, chlorination process was combined by mechanoleaching using different solvents at different times. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the phases formed in the samples. X-ray diffraction pattern of milled chalcopyrite powders showed that in the low-energy milling, after a specified time, chalcopyrite is converted to chloride of iron, copper and sulfur. Scanning electron microscope images were obtained to evaluate the products morphology and reaction kinetics. Eventually, after 20 hours milling, about 60 percent of chalcopyrite were converted into chlorides.