Lewis® Compatible — Built for Strong Acid Service
Industrial Chemical & Petrochemical Pumps Manufacturer
EMAIL: info@chempumps.cn
Lewis® Compatible — Built for Strong Acid Service
Industrial Chemical & Petrochemical Pumps Manufacturer
EMAIL: info@chempumps.cn
Nonferrous metal extraction from ores, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths, depends critically on sulfuric acid leaching circuits that dissolve ore minerals and extract target metals into solution. Leaching solutions contain both corrosive sulfuric acid (40–98% H₂SO₄) and suspended solids from crushed ore. Acid must be recirculated through ore heaps or leach tanks continuously, cooled, and reused across multiple extraction cycles. ChemPumps manufactures specialized nonferrous metallurgy pumps engineered for corrosive acid service combined with abrasive ore solids. Our portfolio includes acid-resistant pumps, slurry pumps for ore handling, and high-corrosion-rate designs proven in major copper, zinc, and nickel operations across Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
Nonferrous metal extraction combines multiple demanding pump conditions:
Concentrated Sulfuric Acid (40–98%) – Ore leaching uses strong sulfuric acid that corrodes standard iron pumps. Corrosion rates must stay <0.1 mm/year to meet economic targets for 3–5 year equipment life.
Suspended Ore Solids – Leaching solutions carry 5–20% suspended solids from crushed ore (silica, iron oxides, unreacted minerals). These solids are abrasive and cause impeller erosion.
High Temperature – Exothermic leaching reactions raise solution temperature to 60–90°C, increasing corrosion rates and creating thermal stress on pump materials and seals.
Continuous Recirculation – Industrial-scale leaching demands continuous acid recirculation for weeks or months, with minimal downtime. Equipment must deliver 3–5 year service life under these conditions.
Cost Pressure – Metal extraction economics are tight. Pump failures that shut down leaching circuits cost thousands of dollars per day. Reliable, long-life pumps are essential to profitability.
Standard iron centrifugal pumps fail within months under these combined conditions. Specialized nonferrous metallurgy pumps with corrosion-resistant materials and abrasion-resistant designs deliver 3–5 year service life and superior ROI.
ChemPumps offers four specialized pump types engineered for copper, zinc, nickel, and cobalt extraction operations.
Acid resistant pumps are engineered specifically for sulfuric acid leaching solution recirculation in copper, zinc, and nickel operations. High-alloyed ductile iron (B-2) casing with specialized shaft sleeve options (B-11/B-12/B-13 Lewmet alloys) deliver corrosion rates <0.1 mm/year in 40–98% H₂SO₄ at 60–90°C. Browse acid-resistant metallurgy pumps →
Where standard acid-resistant designs don’t meet corrosion targets, our corrosion resistant pump line uses full Lewmet (B-11/B-12/B-13) construction and premium materials for maximum corrosion protection. Suitable for the most aggressive leaching environments where extended 5+ year service life is required. Browse premium corrosion-resistant pumps →
Ore leaching solutions carry suspended solids requiring wear-resistant slurry pump designs. Our slurry pump line uses elastomer-lined casings and rubber-faced impellers to resist abrasion while maintaining corrosion resistance through alloy material selection. Browse metallurgy slurry pumps →
General-purpose industrial chemical pumps handle associated leaching services: cooling loop circulation, barren acid recirculation, and inter-tank transfer across nonferrous metallurgy operations. Browse industrial metallurgy pumps →
Metal extraction acid leaching demands material strategies balancing corrosion resistance and abrasion tolerance:
| Metal | Leaching Medium | Temperature | Recommended Material | Corrosion Rate | Service Life |
| Copper (chalcopyrite) | 40–60% H₂SO₄, 10% solids | 60–80°C | B-2 casing + B-11/B-12 shaft | <0.1 mm/a | 3–5 years |
| Zinc (sphalerite) | 50–80% H₂SO₄, 5% solids | 70–90°C | B-2 casing + B-12/B-13 shaft | 0.05–0.1 mm/a | 3–5 years |
| Nickel (laterite) | 80–95% H₂SO₄, 8% solids | 80–100°C | B-2/B-11 or full Lewmet | <0.05 mm/a | 4–5 years |
| Cobalt (laterite) | High-acid leaching (>90%) | 85–100°C | Full Lewmet (B-11/B-12/B-13) | <0.025 mm/a | 5+ years |
| Rare Earths (REE) | Strong acid + solids | 60–80°C | Custom alloy selection | Contact for specs | 3–5 years |
Copper extraction from chalcopyrite and porphyry ores uses 40–60% sulfuric acid leaching at 60–80°C. Our acid resistant pump and slurry pump combination handles continuous acid recirculation and ore solid handling in industrial-scale copper operations. Explore copper leaching solutions →
Zinc extraction from sphalerite requires 50–80% sulfuric acid at elevated temperature (70–90°C). Our corrosion resistant pumps deliver the extended service life needed for zinc leaching circuits operating continuously for months. Explore zinc leaching solutions →
Laterite nickel ore requires aggressive 80–95% sulfuric acid leaching at high temperature (80–100°C). Only full Lewmet (B-11/B-12/B-13) construction survives these conditions. Explore nickel leaching pump solutions →
Precious metals and rare earth element extraction involve specialized acid leaching and solvent extraction. Our engineering team provides custom pump solutions for non-standard leaching media and process requirements. Contact us for precious metal and REE pump specifications.
Field-Proven in Major Mining Operations – ChemPumps pumps operate in copper mines across Africa (Congo, Zambia, Ghana), zinc operations in South America, and nickel laterite plants across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with proven 3–5 year service records.
Corrosion Rate Engineering – We don’t just recommend materials, we calculate expected corrosion rates based on your specific acid concentration, temperature, and flow conditions, ensuring equipment ROI targets are met.
Combined Acid + Solids Handling – Nonferrous leaching involves both corrosive acid and abrasive ore solids. Our material strategies balance corrosion resistance with abrasion tolerance for superior service life.
Integrated Leaching Circuit Support – Industrial leaching requires multiple pumps: acid recirculation, cooling loops, barren solution transfer, and ore discharge. We coordinate material selection and spare parts across all circuits.
Global Spare Parts Network – Mining operations are often remote. Our spare parts network in Africa, South America, and Asia ensures rapid availability of shafts, seals, and impeller components.
Metallurgical Consultation – Our engineers understand leaching metallurgy, acid composition, temperature ranges, and solids loading, enabling optimal pump specification for your specific ore and extraction process.
For copper leaching in 45–60% H₂SO₄ at 70°C, we recommend B-2 (alloy ductile iron) casing with B-11 or B-12 (Lewmet alloy) shaft sleeves. Corrosion rates are typically 0.08–0.12 mm/year, delivering 3–5 year service life. For higher corrosion rate targets (<0.05 mm/year), upgrade to B-12 shaft with B-13 seal rings. Request copper leaching pump specifications.
Yes, with proper design. Standard acid-resistant pumps handle up to 5–10% solids. For higher solids loading (15%+), we recommend elastomer-lined slurry pump designs with wear-resistant impellers combined with high-alloyed casing materials (B-2) for corrosion protection. View slurry pump specifications for ore handling.
In aggressive nickel laterite leaching (90%+ H₂SO₄, 100°C), only full Lewmet construction (B-11/B-12/B-13) achieves acceptable corrosion rates <0.05 mm/year. Standard B-2 materials fail rapidly. Request nickel leaching material specifications.
With proper material selection, acid-resistant pumps require seal inspection every 6–12 months and bearing lubrication every 3 months during continuous operation. Planned overhauls occur every 2–4 years depending on acid concentration, temperature, and solids loading. We provide detailed maintenance schedules for each application. Request a metallurgy pump maintenance schedule.
Yes. Barren acid (acid depleted of dissolved metals after ore extraction) is typically less corrosive than fresh leaching acid. Our acid resistant pumps and industrial chemical pumps handle barren acid recirculation for acid cooling, concentration, or reuse in additional leaching stages. View barren acid pump solutions.
Metal extraction requires customized pump engineering based on your specific ore and process. Here’s our approach:
Get in touch with our nonferrous metallurgy pump specialists → or explore our nonferrous metallurgy pump portfolio →
