Recovery of Copper

摘要

1,151,588. Recovering copper from ores. REXOLIN CHEMICALS A.B. Oct.27, 1967 [Oct. 28, 1966], No.48388/66. Headings C7B and C7D. Cu is recovered from Cu-bearing ores contaminated with alkaline earth metal carbonates and phosphates by contacting the Cu-bearing ore with a leaching agent comprising at least one aminocarboxylic acid or water soluble salt of such an acid to produce a solution containing a chelate or complex of Cu with the leaching agent, and subsequently reducing the chelate or complex by hdrogenation or by electrolysis to produce Cu metal. The leaching agent may be nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid, dihydroxyethylamino-acetic acid, #-hydroxyethylaminoacetic acid, hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid, dihydroxyethylethylenediaminediacetic acid or diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid or an alkali metal or ammonium salt of such an acid. The hydrogenation may be carried out at 10, 20 or 30 atmospheres of hydrogen and at 100 to 150‹ C. or above. A carbonate or phosphate buffer may be added to prevent the pH from falling too far. The electrolysis may be carried out with a cathode of Cu and an anode of hard Pb or high-silicon Fe. In the Example, there is a Pt beaker as cathode and a Pt anode. The electrolyzing voltage is 3 volts.