METHOD OF PROCESSING INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS IN COPPER-AND-NICKEL MANUFACTURE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: nonferrous metallurgy; processing intermediate products; metallized materials formed in the course of extraction of nonferrous metals from copper-and- nickel ores. SUBSTANCE: method includes sulfate solution leaching at heating and aeration; acid leaching is performed in two stages at atmospheric pressure and pH more than 3.5: first nickel, iron and cobalt are dissolved in solution containing ion Cu⁺² - 30 g/l till leaching residue contains at least 18 % of metallic nickel, after which copper is leached in sulfate solution. Process is conducted at intensive blowing of solution with air at rate of 7 to 12 cu. Nm per cu.m of solution. EFFECT: increased recovery of nonferrous and platinum metals; selective separation of nickel and copper; low expenses for processing intermediate products; facilitated technology. 2 cl, 1 tbl