METHODS FOR PRODUCING AND LEACHING METALS FROM MINERAL RAW MATERIALS, APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF METHODS AND CATHODE OF ELECTROLYZER

摘要

FIELD: extraction of metals. SUBSTANCE: mineral stock is fed into leaching apparatus 10 to contact with electrolyte. Leaching apparatus has a zone with decreasing redox potential (17-20). Electrolyte stream 14a is being removed from zone 20 and treated to remove admixtures and undesired metals in treatment arrangement 25A before metal is extracted by aid of electrolysis. After electrolysis process, electrolyte is returned into leaching apparatus 10. The second electrolyte stream 14A may be removed from zone 19 to additionally extract metals. Electrolyte 14B is treated to remove admixtures and any undesired metals in treatment arrangement 25B before metal is extracted by aid of electrolysis, whereupon electrolyte is returned into leaching apparatus 10. EFFECT: enabled leaching difficultly leachable metals including gold and thereby obtained possibility of extracting one or several high-purity metals. 1 dwg