Patent · US Expired

Hydrometallurgical process for copper recovery

US4634467A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 1985
Grant dateJan 6, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2005

Classification

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

Abstract

An improved hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of metallic copper, elemental sulfur, compounds of molybdenum and other valuable materials from copper sulfide ore concentrates, such as chalcopyrite. The process, comprising a reduction stage, metallic copper recovery stage, and a combined regeneration-purge-oxidation stage, is improved by the addition of a second reduction stage following the first or primary reduction stage, and by the addition of a by-product recovery stage after the second or secondary reduction stage. The secondary reduction stage also enhances overall process performance by allowing more flexible operating practices.

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