Extraction of Copper: Phytomining and Bioleaching

Introduction

• Focus on methods to extract copper, specifically for higher-tier students.
• Copper is a critical metal due to its use in electronics (e.g., phones).
• The demand for metals is increasing globally.
• Traditional copper ores are becoming scarce.

Challenges

• Copper ores are running out, necessitating extraction from low-grade ores.
• Low-grade ores contain less copper, making economical extraction challenging.

Methods of Extraction

1. Phytomining

• Process:
  • Plants are grown on land containing copper compounds.
  • Plants absorb and concentrate the metal in their tissue.
  • Plants are harvested and burned; the resultant ash contains a high concentration of the metal compound.

2. Bioleaching

• Process:
  • Bacteria are mixed with low-grade ore.
  • Bacteria perform chemical reactions, producing a solution called leachate.
  • Leachate contains the desired metal compound.

Extraction of Copper from Compounds

• Methods:
  • Displacement using iron due to its higher reactivity than copper.
  • Electrolysis can also be employed.

Advantages of Phytomining and Bioleaching

• Economical extraction from low-grade ores.
• Essential as metal ore resources are limited.
• Avoids the need for digging, transporting, and disposing of large amounts of rock, unlike traditional mining.

Additional Resources

• Practice questions on phytomining and bioleaching are available in motivation work for further learning.