Systems and methods for improved metal recovery by leaching

Abstract

A method for improving recovery of a metal value from a metal-bearing material is provided. The method includes applying a leaching solution to the metal-bearing material to form a pregnant leach solution, wherein the leaching solution comprises a chelating surfactant, wherein the chelating surfactant is comprised of citric acid or salts thereof and decreases a contact angle between the leaching solution and the metal-bearing material. The method further includes recovering the metal value from the pregnant leach solution to form a raffinate, wherein the metal-bearing material comprises pyrite, and wherein the leaching solution comprises a concentration of citric acid in a range on the order of about 0.1 g/L to about 3 g/L.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.