METHOD TO PROCESS SLUDGE OF NEUTRALISATION OF ACID MINE WATERS Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC C22B3/08 C22B19/00 C22B15/00 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of hydrometallurgy of heavy non-ferrous metals. The method for processing of sludges of neutralisation of acid mine waters includes its preliminary grinding, afterwards sulfuric leaching is carried out during mixing by means of treatment of the sludge with acid mine waters and sulfuric acid and addition of iminodiacetatic ampholyte for simultaneous sorption of copper and zinc. Ampholyte is separated from the produced pulp, and its desorption is carried out with sulfuric acid with formation of desorbed iminodiacetic ampholyte and sulfate solution. The desorbed ampholyte is returned to the stage of leaching and simultaneous sorption. From the sulfate solution by means of electrolysis copper is serially extracted, and then - zinc. The treated sulfate solution is returned to the stage of desorption. The produced pulp after separation of ampholyte from it is neutralised with lime, afterwards it is separated with solid residue and liquid part. The remaining solid residue is dried and ground with production of a gypsum-containing end product.

EFFECT: provision of development of a wasteless technology, which ensures extraction of copper and zinc from sludges of neutralisation of acid mine waters into end products and production of an additional end product - a binder for production of construction materials.

1 dwg, 7 tbl