IMPROVED TELLURIUM EXTRACTION FROM COPPER ELECTROREFINING SLIMES

摘要

The present invention is concerned with a method for the substantially selective extraction of tellurium from copper electrorefining slimes. The method comprises maintaining a molar ratio Ag/Se, Ag/S or Ag/Se+S at a value of about 2 or less in the slimes during leaching thereof in an autoclave. The excess of selenium and/or sulphur allows the formation of Ag2Se or Ag2S, which remains insoluble during autoclave leaching.