METHOD OF PROCESSING ZINC AND GERMANIUM CONTAINING SOLID PHASE POLYMETALLIC MINERAL MATERIAL Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC C22B41/00 C22B19/00 C22B3/04 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: method includes leaching of material with water solution of chemical reagent and successive treatment of produced pulp for extraction of germanium and zinc. At that leaching is carried out with mechanical, grinding and disintegrating effect, using as solution chemical reagent of solution, containing oxidant at amount from 1.8 to 2.5 kg per 1 kg of germanium contained in source material and hydroxide of alkali metal at amount maintaining medium pH from 12 to 14 at ratio of solid and liquid phases 1:(3-8). Germanium is sorption settled out of produced pulp by means of transmission of pulp through ion exchanging resin; alkali at amount facilitating 13.5-14 pH of medium and water at amount facilitating ratio of solid and liquid phases 1:(5-8) are added to pulp. Product received after sorption sedimentation of germanium is treated in autoclave at temperature of 120-250°C and pressure of 6-40 atm. Then liquid phase is separated out of which zinc is extracted while germanium is eluated out of ion exchanging resin. Germanium is extracted out of produced eluate.

EFFECT: increased degree of germanium and zinc extraction.

4 cl, 2 ex