METHOD OF ISOLATING COPPER FROM SULFUR-BEARING COPPER ORE OR CONCENTRATE Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: hydrometallurgy. SUBSTANCE: ore or concentrate is subjected to oxidation under pressure in presence of oxygen and acidic chloride solution to give oxidation product and insoluble basic copper sulfate salt. Oxidation under pressure is performed in presence of bisulfate and sulfate ions' source, for example, sulfuric acid. Amount of added sulfate source provides at least stoichiometric amount of sulfate ions required for formation of basic copper sulfate salt, which is less than amount of in situ generated sulfate at oxidation under pressure. In typical version, oxidation under pressure is effected at specified H⁺/Cu ratio such that filtrate of oxidation product containing chief part of ore or concentrate copper whereas basic copper salt contains insignificant part of concentrate copper. Invention provides choice of H⁺/Cu ratio corresponding to content copper in ore or concentrate: value of this ratio is increased as content of copper in ore or concentrate decreases. In additional version, basic copper salt is dissolved in subsequent normal-pressure leaching stage. Concentrated copper solution that is suited to electrochemical isolation of copper is prepared by the aid of liquid extraction. This method is also satisfactory for isolation zinc and copper. EFFECT: increased degree of copper isolation. 55 cl, 4 dwg, 10 tbl, 11 ex