Process for recovery of metal-containing values from minerals and ores

Abstract

A process for the recovery of metal-containing values from an ore and/or from one or more minerals, that are not readily oxidizable and that are susceptible to reduction comprising: subjecting said ore or one or more minerals to reduction in an electrolysis chamber having a single undivided acidic electrolytic medium; the reduction being carried out by hydrogen using a cathode comprising a material that promotes the generation of monatomic hydrogen; whereby one or more metal-containing values is produced in a reduced form.

1 . A process for the recovery of metal-containing values from an ore, or from one or more minerals, that are not readily oxidizable and that are susceptible to reduction comprising:
 subjecting said ore or one or more minerals to reduction in an electrolysis chamber having a single undivided acidic electrolytic medium;   the reduction being carried out by hydrogen using a cathode comprising a material that promotes the generation of monatomic hydrogen;   whereby one or more metal-containing values is produced in a reduced form.   
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the ore or one or more minerals comprises a sulfide-containing ore or mineral. 
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the cathode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, nickel, tantalum, molybdenum, aluminum, platinum, palladium, or iridium. 
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the cathode comprises aluminum. 
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 4  in which the cathode comprises aluminum foam. 
   
   
       6 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the anode comprises graphite. 
   
   
       7 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the ore or one or more minerals comprises copper, zinc, manganese, silver, and/or nickel. 
   
   
       8 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the ore or one or more minerals comprises chalcopyrite, bornite, pentlandite, pyrargyrite, zinc ferrites or manganese oxides. 
   
   
       9 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the ore or one or more minerals comprises chalcopyrite. 
   
   
       10 . A process according to  claim 1  in which the acidic electrolytic medium comprises sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. 
   
   
       11 . A process according to  claim 1  conducted at ambient temperature. 
   
   
       12 . A process according to  claim 1  further comprising oxidizing the reduced form of the metal-containing values to recover the corresponding metal.