METHOD OF EXTRACTION OF NONFERROUS AND NOBLE METALS, MAINLY COPPER AND GOLD, FROM SULFUR WASTE Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC C22B11/00 C22B15/00 C22B3/08 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention concerns hydrometallurgy of nonferrous and noble metals, mainly extraction of copper and gold from sulfur wastes which are wastes from sulfuric acid manufacturing, and can be used at dense, cuvet and percolation leaching. Method includes piling of sulfur wastes to antifilter basis, influence upon it of precipitations during its storage, collection of underspoil acid water, its additional if necessary acidation by sulfuric acid and copper leaching at values of pH and Eh of productional solutions 2.0-2.5 and 500-540 mV respectively. After reduction of copper concentration less than 100 mg/l there are reduced content of oxidant and acid in leaching solution, thiocarbamide is introduced in it, noble metals are leached, and mainly it is gold. Extracted in solution copper and gold are isolated by cementation.

EFFECT: reduction of reagent unit discharge, expenditures of energy and increasing of copper and gold extraction ratio.

4 cl, 6 tbl, 6 ex