US2004200730A1PendingUtilityA1

Hydrometallurgical copper recovery process

26
Priority: Apr 14, 2003Filed: Apr 14, 2003Published: Oct 14, 2004
Est. expiryApr 14, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kyo Jibiki
C22B 15/0089C22B 15/0069C22B 15/0071C22B 3/08Y02P10/20
26
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Claims

Abstract

The invention provides processes for recovering copper metal from sulphide minerals via basic copper sulphate which is produced by pressure oxidation in chloride spiked sulphate solutions. Chloride contaminants in the basic copper sulphate obtained from the pressure oxidation reaction are removed in a reaction with an alkali, such as CaO. Thereafter, the basic copper sulphate is leached with a weak acid, and the resultant pregnant copper solution contains chloride ions at low concentrations, which allow copper electrolysis to operate efficiently.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating basic copper sulphate solids produced by chloride ion assisted pressure oxidation of copper-bearing sulphide ores or concentrates, the method comprising reacting the basic copper sulphate solids with an aqueous solution of an alkali to yield copper hydroxide solids.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering copper from the copper hydroxide solids by leaching and electrowinning.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali is selected from the group consisting of: calcium oxide, CaO, calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2 , and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alkali is selected from the group consisting of: calcium oxide, CaO, calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2 , and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the reaction of the basic copper sulphate with the alkali occurs at a temperature below about 45° C.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the reaction of the basic copper sulphate with the alkali occurs at a temperature below about 45° C.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the alkali is CaO and the amount of CaO used is in the range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the dry weight of the basic copper sulphate solids.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the alkali is CaO and the amount of CaO used is in the range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the dry weight of the basic copper sulphate solids.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the alkali is CaO and the amount of CaO used is in the range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the dry weight of the basic copper sulphate solids.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the alkali is CaO and the amount of CaO used is in the range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the dry weight of the basic copper sulphate solids.  
     
     
         11 . A method of recovering copper metal from copper sulphide ores or concentrates comprising: 
 a) obtaining basic copper sulphate solids by chloride ion assisted pressure oxidation of copper-bearing sulphide ores and concentrates;    b) removing chloride contaminants from the basic copper sulphate solids by reacting the basic copper sulphate solids with an aqueous solution of an alkali to yield copper hydroxide solids separable from a chloride-containing liquid;    c) reacting the copper hydroxide with an acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield a copper sulphate solution; and    d) recovering copper from the copper sulphate solution by electrowinning.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the alkali is selected from the group consisting of: calcium oxide, CaO, calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2 , and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the reaction of the basic copper sulphate with the alkali occurs at a temperature below about 45° C.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the alkali is CaO and the amount of CaO used is in the range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the dry weight of the basic copper sulphate solids.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alkali is CaO and the amount of CaO used is in the range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the dry weight of the basic copper sulphate solids.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein pH is maintained in the range of about 2 to about 2.5 when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein pH is maintained in the range of about 2 to about 2.5 when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein pH is maintained in the range of about 2 to about 2.5 when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein pH is maintained in the range of about 2 to about 2.5 when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pH is maintained in the range of about 2 to about 2.5 when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature is maintained in the range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. when reacting the copper hydroxide with the acidic electrolyte solution containing sulphuric acid to yield the copper sulphate solution (step c).  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising reducing the concentration of chloride ions in the chloride-containing liquid of step (b) by addition of cuprous oxide to form separable cuprous chloride solids.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein pH of the chloride-containing liquid is maintained in the range of 2 to 2.5 by addition of sulphuric acid or sulphuric acid solution when reacting the chloride ions with the cuprous oxide to precipitate the cuprous chloride solids.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising maintaining the temperature of the chloride-containing liquid at or below an ambient temperature when reacting the chloride ions with the cuprous oxide to precipitate the cuprous chloride solids.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein cupric ions are added to a concentration of about 0.2 g/L to promote the reaction of chloride ions with cuprous oxide to precipitate the cuprous chloride solids.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising reducing the concentration of chloride ions in the copper sulphate solution of step (c) by addition of cuprous oxide to form insoluble cuprous chloride solids.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein pH of the copper sulphate solution is maintained in the range of 2 to 2.5 by addition of sulphuric acid or sulphuric acid solution when reacting the chloride ions with the cuprous oxide to precipitate the cuprous chloride solutions.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising maintaining the temperature of the copper sulphate solution at or below an ambient temperature when reacting the chloride ions with the cuprous oxide to precipitate the cuprous chloride solids.  
     
     
         38 . The method of claims  31  or  35 , wherein the cuprous chloride solids are recovered and are converted to cuprous oxide with an alkali to produce an alkali chloride solution; and, the alkali chloride solution is recycled for chloride ion assisted pressure oxidation in step (a).  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the alkali is selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, CaO, calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2  or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising recycling the cuprous oxide for use in steps to remove chloride ions from solutions.

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