The use of a novel oxime derivative [Phenyl(N-methylaniline)ketooxime] as leach reagent in the Copper(II) hydrometallurgy

Phenyl(N-methylaniline)ketooxime, (HL), has been designed and synthesized at the Chemical Engineering Research Center—UNSA, following the structural pattern of the LIX compounds, with a yield of 85%. The novel oxime derivative (HL) has been characterized through its physical and physicochemical properties such as: melting point (245–248 °C), solubility in water (ca. 2.0 g/l), protonation constant (log Kp, 5.7 in methanol), and an absorption maximum (λmax) in the UV–visible spectra, at 365 nm, in methanol solution. s obtained from leach experiments indicate that the novel oxime derivative in alkaline and hypochlorite aqueous solution solubilises copper selectively in the form of a neutral copper(II) complex (CuL2), which remained stable during the experimental period in a pH range between 9 and 11 and redox potential (Eh) range between −0.145 and 0.047 V. The aqueous blue–purple copper(II) complex solution was characterized from its absorption spectra, showing a single peak at λmax = 610 nm. e of the novel oxime derivative in the leaching process has enabled the copper to concentrate from 0.82% in the ore to ca. 6.0 g/l in the pregnant leaching solution. other hand, electrowinning of the leach liquors has enabled the recovery of the copper and the release of the novel oxime derivative as a spent electrolyte, which was reused in a new leach process batch. y, by using Phenyl(N-methylaniline)ketooxime for copper hydrometallurgy, it is possible to propose an extraction process, which involves just two stages: leaching and electrowinning, thus requiring lower capital cost and energy consumption.