METHOD OF UTILIZATION OF COPPER-CONTAINING WASTES Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: hydrometallurgy; applicable in production of electrolytic compact copper, copper powder and ammonium acetate. SUBSTANCE: method includes dessolving of copper-containing wastes and subsequent electrolysis of obtained solution. Copper-containing waste are used in form of wastes of activated carbon from which copper-ammonia complex is recovered. Obtained copper-ammonia solution is subjected to electrolysis to reduce copper concentration in electrolyte down to 5 g/l with production of compact electrolytic copper. Then, electrolysis is continued to reduce copper content in electrolyte to 1.7 g/l with obtaining of powdery copper. Electrolyte is supplied for dissolving of copper- ammonia complex and after 15-20 cycles of dissolving, it is purified from copper with cation-exchange resin, and ammonium acetate is obtained. Used activated carbon containing 0.1-0.3% of copper is dried and used in blast-furnace processes or for manufacture of electrodes. Method provides for production of, both, compact and powdery copper with excluded use of sulfuring acid required for conduction of electrolysis with acid electrolyte and utilization of spent electrolyte. Technology is wasteless and ecologically safe. EFFECT: higher efficiency.