LEACHING PROCESS IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID FOR THE RECOVERY OF A VALUE METAL FROM AN ORA

摘要

A process is described for leaching a value metal from an ore containing said value metal, the process including the steps of leaching the ore in the presence of hydrochloric acid so as to form a soluble metal-chloride salt in a leach solution; adding sulphur dioxide to the leach solution; recovering a metal-sulphate or metal-sulphite salt from the leach solution; and regenerating hydrochloric acid. The ore may be an oxidic base metal ore, such as a zinc oxide ore; a lateritic nickel ore, such as a saprolitic or limonitic ore; a sulphide ore or a titanium ore. The value metal is typically selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cu, Ti, Al, Cr, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Pb, Na, K, Ca, platinum group metals and gold. The metal in the metal-sulphate or sulphite salt may be the value metal, or may be a metal of less value than the value metal, such as magnesium. The regenerated hydrochloric acid is recycled within the leach process.