Process for making shaped copper articles

US5820653A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• ElectroCopper Products Limited · US

Inventors

• Michael A. Eamon · Tucson, US
• Robert J. Fedor · Westlake, US
• Sharon K. Young · Tucson, US
• Susan S. Enos · Tucson, US
• Wendy M. Gort · Winkelman, US
• Roger N. Wright · Rexford, US
• Stephen J. Kohut · Chandler, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 18, 1996
• Grant date: Oct 13, 1998
• Expiry date: Apr 18, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for making a shaped copper article directly from a copper-bearing material, comprising: (A) contacting said copper-bearing material with an effective amount of at least one aqueous leaching solution to dissolve copper ions into said leaching solution and form a copper-rich aqueous leaching solution; (B) contacting said copper-rich aqueous leaching solution with an effective amount of at least one water-insoluble extractant to transfer copper ions from said copper-rich aqueous leaching solution to said extractant to form a copper-rich extractant and a copper-depleted aqueous leaching solution; (C) separating said copper-rich extractant from said copper-depleted aqueous leaching solution; (D) contacting said copper-rich extractant with an effective amount of at least one aqueous stripping solution to transfer copper ions from said extractant to said stripping solution to form a copper-rich stripping solution and a copper-depleted extractant; (E) separating said copper-rich stripping solution from said copper-depleted extractant; (F) flowing said copper-rich stripping solution between an anode and a cathode, and applying an effective amount of volta…