Brainlag PlusPhytomining and bioleaching for low-grade copper ores, reading a life cycle assessment, and how reducing, reusing and recycling save resources and energy.
New ways to get copper (Higher)
High-grade copper ores are running out, so copper is extracted from low-grade ores and mine waste.
These methods avoid digging, moving and dumping large amounts of rock.
- Phytomining: plants absorb metal compounds from the soil. They are harvested and burned; the ash contains metal compounds. Slow.
- Bioleaching: bacteria produce a leachate solution containing metal compounds.
- Copper is then obtained from the solution by displacement with scrap iron (cheap, and more reactive than copper) or by electrolysis.
- Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu (Ar: Fe = 56, Cu = 63.5)
- 1 mole of iron gives 1 mole of copper: 56 kg of iron gives 63.5 kg of copper
- iron for 10.0 kg of copper = 10.0 × 56 ÷ 63.5 = 8.82 kg (3 s.f.)
The rest of this lesson and its 9 practice questions are in Plus.
Screen 1 of 4, free to read.
- 9 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
- Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards