Hydrometallurical recovery of copper and zinc from complex sulfide ores
US5484579A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A continuous hydrometallurgical process for conversion of ore derived copper and zinc sulfides into recoverable water soluble sulfates is provided. The process comprises: PA1 i) contacting the ore derived copper and zinc sulfides with sulfuric acid and with nitric acid to form a reaction mixture in an acidic solution, PA1 ii) maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature in the range of 110.degree. C. to 170.degree. C. while continuously mixing the reaction mixture, PA1 iii) adding sufficient sulfuric acid and nitric acid to the reaction mixture to form a light precipitate and a dark precipitate in the reaction mixture, the light precipitate comprising water soluble sulfate salts of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate and iron sulfate, and the dark precipitate being water insoluble and comprising mainly elemental sulfur and gangue, PA1 iv) introducing a source of oxygen to the reaction mixture to promote oxidation in the presence of the nitric acid, of the sulfides to sulfates and to oxidize gaseous NO.sub.x reaction products to regenerate nitric acid for the reaction mixture, PA1 v) removing the light and dark precipitates and any entrained acidic solution from the reaction mixture, …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.