Recovery of residues containing copper and other valuable metals
US8088192B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S75/961
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for recovering non-ferrous metals, in particular copper, nickel and cobalt, from metallurgical residues containing these non-ferrous metals at an oxidation state of greater than or equal to zero, in an alternating current type plasma arc electric furnace comprising a plurality of electrodes, containing a liquid copper heel covered by a fluid slag comprising at least one fusion-reduction phase, comprising charging of metallurgical residues comprising the non-ferrous metals onto the heel contained in the plasma arc electric furnace, fusion of the metallurgical residues in the fluid slag or at the slag-metal bath interface, reduction of at least the non-ferrous metals to oxidation state zero, and intense stirring of the copper heel by injection of inert gas, preferably nitrogen and/or argon, so as to avoid crust formation and to accelerate the reduction reaction and to cause the copper-miscible non-ferrous metals to pass into the copper heel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.