Process for separation and recovery of metal values from sulfide ore concentrates
US4011146A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1975 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An improvement in conventional processes for recovering metal values from sulfide ores containing lead, zinc and silver sulfides in which process the metal sulfides are converted to chlorides by chlorination followed by solubilization of the chlorides with a sodium chloride leach and subsequent recovery of the metals from their chlorides in accordance with a conventional flow sheet including crystallization, cementation, precipitation, fused salt electrolysis, etc., with chlorine being recovered for reuse by electrolysis of the sodium chloride leach solution substantially depleted of lead, silver and zinc, the improvement being a pollution-free process which comprises: 1. recycling the sodium chloride solution depleted of a major percentage of lead and silver to the sodium chloride or brine leaching step; and 2. controlling the concentration of zinc and other impurities in the sodium chloride or brine leaching solution by bleeding a portion from the recycle stream of (1) above, removing lead, zinc and other metal impurities from the bleed stream, electrolyzing the bleed stream to produce chlorine, sodium hydroxide and a weak sodium chloride solution followed by recycle of the chlor…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.