Application of High-Performance Phosphonic Acid Extractants in Copper Recovery in South America

With global copper demand continuing to rise, South America, as the world’s leading copper-producing region, faces challenges in processing complex ores under high-temperature leaching conditions. At Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine in Chile, copper concentrates contain coexisting impurities such as iron and nickel, making stability and separation efficiency of conventional extractants a critical issue in industrial leaching operations.

Recently, ***ore has tested the use of high-performance phosphonic acid extractants (Seeyon®M3272/3301/3302) in continuous industrial trials. These extractants maintain excellent thermal stability and hydrolysis resistance at 80–90°C, effectively preventing emulsion formation and phase cloudiness. Fully miscible with aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon diluents, they ensure smooth phase separation and simplify continuous industrial operations.

In practical conditions, the recommended dosage ranges from 1/5 to 1/3 of the extraction solution, adjustable according to copper concentrate concentration and pH, enabling stable copper separation and recovery. Other South American copper operations, such as Peru’s Antamina mine, are also exploring similar extractants to enhance process stability and consistency in continuous leaching.

By adopting high-performance phosphonic acid extractants, South American copper producers gain reliable technical support for handling complex ores and high-temperature leaching conditions. This approach reduces operational risks and provides a sustainable solution for continuous copper concentrate recovery in industrial operations.