Optimum conditions for copper extraction from the flotation waste using factorial experimental design

Copper flotation waste, generated as a byproduct of pyrometallurgical copper production, contains a significant amount of Cu together with trace amounts of other toxic elements such as Fe, Sn, Sb, As, and Pb. It is usually disposed in uncovered tailing ponds in the vicinity of a copper smelter plant. Heavy metals released into the water and soil can cause a number of environmental problems. The amount of copper in copper flotation waste is high enough to be extracted economically using appropriate methods. In this study, the leaching characteristics of copper flotation waste from the Bor Copper Mine, Serbia, were investigated to assess the feasibility of copper extraction.