Hydrometallurgisches Verfahren zur Gewinnung von Metallen aus komplexenErzen

摘要

A continuous hydrometallurgical process for conversion of ore derived copper and zinc sulfides into recoverable water soluble sulfates is provided. The process comprises: i) contacting the ore derived copper and zinc sulfides with sulfuric acid and with nitric acid to form a reaction mixture in an acidic solution, ii) maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature in the range of 110 DEG C. to 170 DEG C. while continuously mixing the reaction mixture, iii) adding sufficient sulfuric acid and nitric acid to the reaction mixture to form a light precipitate and a dark precipitate in the reaction mixture, the light precipitate comprising water soluble sulfate salts of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate and iron sulfate, and the dark precipitate being water insoluble and comprising mainly elemental sulfur and gangue, iv) introducing a source of oxygen to the reaction mixture to promote oxidation in the presence of the nitric acid, of the sulfides to sulfates and to oxidize gaseous NOx reaction products to regenerate nitric acid for the reaction mixture, v) removing the light and dark precipitates and any entrained acidic solution from the reaction mixture, vi) separating the light and dark precipitate from the acidic solution in preparation for treatment of the light precipitate for recovery of copper sulfate and zinc sulfate from the light precipitate, and vii) recycling the acidic solution to the reaction mixture.