TH37505A - Hydro-metallurgical extraction with chloride-assisted - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (10/09/41) This process is for extracting copper from sulfide-containing concentrates or ores. It involves subjecting the ore or concentrate to pressure oxidation in the presence of oxygen and an acidic solution containing halide and sulfate ions, resulting in a pressure oxidation slurry. This slurry is then subjected to a liquid/solid separation step to obtain the resulting pressure oxidation pitrate. The remaining solid, containing insoluble basic metal sulfate salts, is extracted in a second extraction using an acidic sulfate solution to dissolve these salts, producing an extraction liquefaction containing the metal sulfate, such as copper sulfate, in solution and the resulting solid residue. The extraction liquefaction is separated from the solid residue and subjected to a solvent extraction process to produce a concentrated solution of the metal and a metal-free raffinate. At least a portion of the raffinate is recycled back into the pressure oxidation process. The process for extracting copper from sulfide-containing concentrates or ores involves a step of subjecting the ore or concentrate to pressure oxidation in the presence of oxygen and an acidic solution containing halide and sulfate ions, resulting in a pressure oxidation slurry. This slurry is then subjected to a liquid/solid separation step to obtain the pressure oxidation pitrate and a solid residue containing insoluble basic metal sulfate salts. These basic metal sulfate salts are extracted in a second extraction using an acidic sulfate solution to dissolve them, producing an extraction liquefaction containing metal sulfates such as copper sulfate in solution. The resulting solid residue of the extraction liquefaction is separated from the solid residue and subjected to a solvent extraction process to produce a concentrated solution of the metal and a metal-free raffinate. At least a portion of the raffinate is recycled to the pressure oxidation process.

Claims (1)

1. The process for extracting copper from copper sulfide concentrates or ores involves several steps. The ore or concentrate is subjected to pressure oxidation in the presence of oxygen and an acidic solution containing halide and sulfate ions, resulting in a slurry of pressure oxidation. This slurry is then subjected to a liquid/solid separation step to obtain the resulting pressure oxidation pitrate and a solid residue containing insoluble basic copper sulfate salts. Leaching of the basic copper sulfate salts is performed via a second pressure oxidation extraction using an acidic sulfate solution to dissolve the basic copper salts, producing a slurry of copper sulfate in solution and a solid residue. The extraction liquefaction is then separated from the solid residue. Finally, the extraction liquefaction is subjected to solvent extraction to produce a copper concentrate and a copper-free rapfinate. At least a portion of the copper is then recycled. 1. The process under Patent 1 involves the subsequent evaporation of the raffinate to remove water before recycling. 2. The process under Patent 2 involves evaporation via a direct fire evaporation process consisting of subsurface combustion of the fuel in the recycled raffinate. 3. The process under Patent 2 involves the subsequent separation of the raffinate into at least two parts, one of which is recycled to the pressure-activated oxidation process and the other to a second leaching process. 4. The process under Patent 2 involves the subsequent recycling of the raffinate into the pressure-activated oxidation process. 5. The process under Patent 1 involves the subsequent recycling of the oxidation pitrate into the pressure-activated oxidation process. 6. The process under Patent 5 involves the subsequent evaporation of the oxidation pitrate to remove water before recycling it into the pressure-activated oxidation process. 7. The process under claim 6, where evaporation is achieved by a direct flame evaporation route consisting of subsurface combustion of the fuel in the recycled pitrate. 8. The process under claim 5, which is further completed by a step of introducing the pressure-induced oxidation pitrate under solvent extraction before recycling the pitrate to produce a further concentrated copper solution, and the copper-free raffinate is further recycled to pressure-induced oxidation. 9. The process under claim 8, which is further completed by a step of introducing this copper-free raffinate under neutralization before recycling from there to pressure-induced oxidation. 10. The process under claim 1, where the oxidation... 11. The process according to claim 10 where the pH in pressure-induced oxidation is from approximately 2.3 to approximately 3.8. 12. The process according to claim 1 where the second extraction is performed at a pH range of approximately 1.2 to approximately 2.2. 13. The process according to claim 12 where the pH in the first extraction is from approximately 1.5 to approximately 2.0. 14. The process according to claim 1 where the slurry of pressure-induced oxidation is passed to atmospheric pressure at a temperature below the melting point of sulfur. 15. The process according to claim 1 where haveide is selectively extracted from chlorides and bromides. 16. The process according to claim 1 where the concentration... The concentration of copper in the extraction leach is maintained at values from approximately 30 g/L to approximately 50 g/L. 18. The process according to claim 16 in which the concentration of copper in the extraction leach is maintained at values from approximately 35 g/L. (Clause 18, drawing - picture)