Framställning av metallisk koppar genom att reducera koppar(I)-oxid med hjälp av väte

摘要

The invention relates to a method for fabricating metallic copper in connection with the chloride-based hydrometallurgical production of copper. In the method the copper raw material is leached using copper (II) chloride-alkali chloride solution to obtain a solution of copper (I) chloride. Copper is precipitated from the solution as copper (I) oxide and the alkali chloride solution that is formed is routed to chlorine-alkali electrolysis to produce the chlorine, alkali hydroxide and hydrogen required in raw material leaching and copper recovery. Metallic copper is prepared from copper (I) oxide by reducing it from using hydrogen at elevated pressure and temperature in strongly alkaline conditions.