PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF COPPER BY EANS OF LIXIVATION WITH AMMONIA SALTS

摘要

1399281 Extraction of copper ISC SMELTING Ltd 6 Feb 1973 [21 Feb 1972] 7945/72 Heading C1A [Also in Division C7] Copper values are leached from copper dross separated from lead bullion produced in the blast furnace smelting of lead or zinc lead by contacting particles of the dross in the form of a metallic lead matrix containing copper and copper compound inclusions with an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate and ammonium hydroxide to dissolve copper from the dross. The leaching may be effected in the presence of the oxidizing gas or the leachate may be subsequently treated with an oxidizing gas. The ammoniacal solution is preferably a solution of (NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 and NH 4 OA and may contain SO 4 - preferably with a mole ratio CO 3 : SO 4 of 1 : 3. The leaching may be carried out in any conventional manner. The copper may be recovered from the leachate by contact with a copper-selective organic phase, e.g. one containing a hydroxy oxime, from which it may be extracted with an aqueous mineral acid (preferably H 2 SO 4 ). This aqueous phase may be evaporated to recover a copper salt or it may be electrolysed to recover copper.