METHOD OF COPPER RECOVERY FROM ORE OR ORE CONCENTRATE CONTAINING OXIDISED OR OXIDISED AND SULPHIDE COPPER Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC C22B15/00 C22B3/08 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: method involves processing with solution containing sulphuric acid, and flushing with water. Ore or concentrate are reduced to 0.1-0.7 mm grade before processing. Processing is performed in 2-4-stage counterflow by leach solution containing sulphuric acid and copper sulphate at molar ratio of oxidised copper in ore or concentrate: sulphuric acid = 1:1.3-2.0, at solid : liquid ratio within 1:1-4 at each stage. Processed ore is flushed in counterflow by water in 2-4 at ore or ore concentrate to water ratio = 2-5:1 and solid : liquid ratio within 1:1-4 at each stage. Sulphuric acid is added to the water solution obtained after flushing and containing sulphuric acid and copper sulphate till sulphuric acid concentration reaches 10-40 g/dm³, and source ore or ore concentrate is processed with obtained solution.

EFFECT: increased copper concentration in product solution.

2 tbl, 2 ex