Copper-Cobalt hydrometallurgy has seen a resurgence in recent years with the development of projects in Zambia and the DRC. Many of the flow sheets are unique in their use of hydrometallurgical techniques to improve performance compared to the older types in current use. The emphasis has moved from direct copper electrowinning/stripping, with multiple stages of precipitation for removal of impurities and concentration of cobalt, to innovative use of solvent extraction and ion exchange with higher cobalt recoveries to final product._x000D_
The poor quality direct electro-won copper has been supplanted with solvent extraction-electrowinning; with consequent production of LME 'A' quality metal._x000D_
Many of the precipitation steps in cobalt recovery and concentration, have been replaced with solvent extraction; while the remaining precipitation stages have been enhanced with use of oxidants to improve impurity removal. Operating experience from two of these circuits has shown the benefits of the new technologies and the improved overall recovery of both copper and cobalt into higher quality products._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Miller, G, 2008. Design of copper-cobalt hydrometallurgical circuits, in Proceedings MetPlant 2008, pp 447-460 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).