Patent · US Expired

Recovering copper from concentrates with insoluble sulfate forming leach

US4039406A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 7, 1976
Grant dateAug 2, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 7, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P10/20
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

This invention provides a novel and an improved hydrometallurgical method for recovering copper values from copper concentrates. The method essentially comprises the following steps: A. forming an aqueous leach solution containing chloride or bromide ions in a predetermined concentration; B. dispersing copper concentrates in such leach solution to form a slurry; C. carrying out the leaching operation of the slurry at an elevated temperature and under an overpressure of oxygen so as to transform a major proportion of the copper values present in the concentrates into a solid basic copper sulphate; D. separating the resulting leach residue containing the basic copper sulphate from the leach solution; and E. recovering the copper values from the obtained leach residue. The process is simple and efficient and can be carried out either batchwise or continuously.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.