Process for the acid digestion of metal-containing compounds

Abstract

Aqueous leachant compositions and processes for using the same comprising: (a) providing a metal-containing compound; and (b) subjecting the metal-containing compound to an acid digestion comprising contacting the metal-containing compound with an aqueous leachant; wherein the aqueous leachant comprises a mixture selected from the group consisting of: (i) sulfuric acid and one or more alkanesulfonic acids having alkane moieties selected from the group consisting of propyl, ethyl and methyl groups, at a weight ratio of alkanesulfonic acid to sulfuric acid of 1:1000 to 1:1; (ii) sulfuric acid and one or more salts of alkanesulfonic acids having alkane moieties selected from the group consisting of propyl, ethyl and methyl groups, at a weight ratio of salt of alkanesulfonic acid to sulfuric acid of 1:9 to 1:99.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A process comprising:
 providing a metal-containing compound; and   subjecting the metal-containing compound to an acid digestion comprising contacting the metal-containing compound with an aqueous leachant;   wherein the aqueous leachant comprises a mixture selected from the group consisting of: (i) sulfuric acid and one or more alkanesulfonic acids having alkane moieties selected from the group consisting of propyl, ethyl and methyl groups, at a weight ratio of alkanesulfonic acid to sulfuric acid of 1:1000 to 1:1; (ii) sulfuric acid and one or more salts of alkanesulfonic acids having alkane moieties selected from the group consisting of propyl, ethyl and methyl groups, at a weight ratio of salt of alkanesulfonic acid to sulfuric acid of 1:9 to 1:99.   
   
   
       18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the concentration of the sulfuric acid is 0.1 to 50% by weight. 
   
   
       19 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the concentration of the one or more alkanesulfonic acids is 0.001 to 50% by weight. 
   
   
       20 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid. 
   
   
       21 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the salt of alkanesulfonic acid comprises an ammonium, an alkaline or an alkaline earth salt. 
   
   
       22 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the salt of alkanesulfonic acid comprises a salt of methanesulfonic acid. 
   
   
       23 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the salt of alkanesulfonic acid comprises sodiummethanesulfonate. 
   
   
       24 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the leachant further comprises one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of nonionics, anionics, cationics, amphoterics and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       25 . The process according to  claim 24 , wherein the surfactant is present at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.3% by weight, such that a reduction in the contact angle on glass by at least 10° after 1 second in 2% strength aqueous H 2 SO 4  solution at 23° C. is provided. 
   
   
       26 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises a metal component selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium, CaF 2 , zinc, lead, molybdenum, antimony, bismuth, mercury, cobalt, nickel, aluminium, lanthanum, lanthanides, uranium or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises a metal component selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium, CaF 2 , and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       28 . A copper-winning process comprising the process according to claim  1 . 
   
   
       29 . An aqueous leachant comprising:
 (a) 0.001-50% by weight of one or more alkanesulfonic acids having a propyl, ethyl or methyl moiety;   (b) 0.1-50% by weight of sulfuric acid; and   (c) 0-5% by weight of one or more nonionic, anionic, cationic, or amphoteric surfactants;   
     wherein the weight ratio of alkanesulfonic acid to sulfuric acid is 1:1000 to 1:1. 
   
   
       30 . An aqueous leachant comprising:
 (a) 1-10% by weight of one or more salts or alkanesulfonic acids having a propyl, ethyl or methyl moiety;   (b) 90-99% by weight of sulfuric acid; and   (c) 0-5% by weight of one or more nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactants,   
     wherein the weight ratio of salt of alkanesulfonic acid to sulfuric acid is 1:9 to 1:99.