Processing copper sulphide ores
US6537440B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for extracting copper from a mineral feed containing copper sulphide mineral 1, which involves crushing and blending the feed 2, 6, 10 followed by leaching of the feed in an autoclave 20. The conditions in the autoclave are controlled so that the presence of oxygen at superatmospheric oxygen pressure maintains the ratio of ferrous to ferric ions at a level so as to facilitate the leaching of copper from the feed. The leaching is carried out in the presence of acid which may be itself generated by oxidising conditions in the autoclave. Further leaching is carried out in a series of tanks 22, 24, 26 and 28 after which the solids are separated from solution in a series of steps including treatment in a hydroclassifier 30, a clarifier 32 and a polishing filter 38. Copper is extracted from the resultant leachant at a copper extraction station 44 with a final copper product 54 being retrieved in electrowin cells 52.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.