METHOD OF PROCESSING COPPER-AND-NICKEL SULFIDE MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: metallurgy of heavy non-ferrous metals; processing semiproducts of nickel production; hydrometallurgical processing of sulfide copper-and-nickel materials. SUBSTANCE: method includes leaching in circulating sulfate solution obtaining primary nickel solution, cleaning this solution of admixtures, thus obtaining cleaned nickel solution used as starting catholyte at electric extraction of nickel in baths at separated cathode and anode spaces by porous diaphragm forming catholyte in cathode space; while passing through pores of diaphragm, catholyte is transformed into anolyte containing nickel sulfate and sulfuric acid; anolyte is returned for leashing as circulating sulfate solution; catholyte is taken from cathode space in the amount required for obtaining concentration of sulfuric in anolyte not higher than 160 g/cu. dm; it is added to cleaned nickel solution used as starting catholyte at electrical extraction of nickel, thus reducing volumes of solutions at leashing and cleaning stages. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency. 3 ex