Chloride Control in SX-EW Plants

Empresa Minera de Mantos Blancos S.A. successfully commissioned two copper SX-EW plants in late 1995. The design of these solvent extraction plants is such that chloride tenors of 30-35 g/l can be tolerated in the leach solution with no contamination of the electrolyte. The design was carried out in conjunction with Bechtel-ARA engineers and was based on the successful application of the available technology in the market; this mainly focused on decreasing the aqueous entrainment in the organic phase. This entrainment can reach 20,000 ppm in conventional plants.