Process for Purifying Sulphuric Acids

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for purifying sulphuric acids, in particular metal-containing sulphuric acids, characterized in that monodisperse ion exchangers having chelating functional groups are used.

1 . A process for removing metal from a metal-containing sulfuric acid solution, comprising: contacting the sulfuric acid solution with a monodisperse chelating exchanger. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing sulfuric acid solution comprises a copper electrolyte. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal is antimony, bismuth, arsenic, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, or iron, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the monodisperse chelating exchanger comprises at least one functional groups of the type —(CH 2 ) n —NR 1 R 2 , where 
       R 1  is hydrogen or a CH 2 COOH or CH 2 P(O)(OH) 2  radical, 
       R 2  is a CH 2 COOH or CH 2 P(O)(OH) 2  radical, and 
       n is an integer from 1 to 4. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the monodisperse chelating exchanger comprises a macroporous structure. 
     
     
         7 . A process for removing metal from a metal-containing copper electrolyte containing sulfuric acid, comprising: contacting the metal-containing copper electrolyte with a monodisperse chelating exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . A process for winning elemental copper, comprising:
 providing a copper electrolyte containing sulfuric acid treated according to the process of  claim 7 ;   contacting said copper electrolyte containing sulfuric acid with a cathode; and   obtaining the elemental copper formed at the cathode by electrolytic reduction.   
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein the metal is antimony, bismuth, arsenic, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, or iron, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A process for winning elemental copper, comprising:
 providing a sulfuric acid solution treated according to the process of  claim 3 ;   obtaining the elemental copper formed at the cathode by electrolytic reduction.