High slurry density sulfidic mineral leaching using nitrogen dioxide
US4144310A · kind A · utility
3Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1977 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An energy efficient process is disclosed for the hydrometallurgical oxidation of sulfidic minerals containing copper, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, or zinc values. A high density slurry, e.g., 67% by weight solids, is prepared from a particulate sulfide mineral and water. Nitrogen dioxide and preferably also oxygen are added to the slurry to oxidize the sulfidic minerals and to produce solubilized cations and nitric oxide. The nitric oxide is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide, thereby regenerating the principal oxidant. If oxygen is added to the slurry along with NO.sub.2, then the regeneration occurs in-situ.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.