Process for the recovery of metals from sulfide ores through electrolytic dissociation of the sulfides

Claim 2

AN ALKALI METAL AND/OR ALKALINE EARTH METAL CHLORIDE ELECTROLYTE,

Claim 3

A SULFIDE FEED OF AVERAGE PARTICLE SIZE SMALLER THAN 60 MESH U.S. STANDARD,

Claim 4

A SULFIDE FEED OF AVERAGE PARTICLE SIZE SMALLER THAN 60 MESH U.S. STANDARD,

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 in which the sulfide from which the metal is recovered is characterized by having a specific resistivity of at least 1 X 10 5 ohm-cm.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 in which the metal is recovered from the sulfide in the presence of iron sulfides.

Claim 7

A PH RANGE OF ABOUT 0.01-3.9,

Claim 8

A PH RANGE OF ABOUT 0.01-3.9,

Claim 9

AN ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE RANGE OF ABOUT 60*-105*C., AND

Claim 10

AN ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE RANGE OF ABOUT 60*-105*C., AND

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 including the final step of recovering the metal from solution in the electrolyte by electrodeposition on the cathode.

Claim 12

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is copper.

Claim 13

AN ANODE CURRENT DENSITY ABOVE ABOUT 12 AMPERES/FT2.

Claim 14

AN ANODE CURRENT DENSITY ABOVE ABOUT 12 AMPERES/FT2.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is lead.

Claim 16

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is silver.

Claim 17

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is zinc.

Claim 18

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is antimony.

Claim 19

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is arsenic.

Claim 20

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is bismuth.

Claim 21

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is cadmium.

Claim 22

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is selenium.

Claim 23

The process of claim 1 in which the metal recovered is gold.

Claim 24

The process of claim 1 in which the alkali metal chlorides are sodium and potassium chlorides and the alkaline earth metal chlorides are calcium and barium chlorides.

Claim 25

The process of claim 1 in which the metal is copper and a pH between about 0.5 and 1.5 is used.

Claim 26

The process of claim 1 in which the metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, lead and silver and a pH between about 0.5 and 3.0 is used.

Claim 27

The process of claim 1 in which the metals are selected from the group consisting of antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, copper, gold, lead, selenium, silver and zinc.

Claim 28

In the process for the electrolytic recovery of sulfur and metals of Groups I B, II B, V A, VI A of the Periodic Table and lead from their sulfides and mixed sulfides, the improvement which comprises: a. conducting the electrolysis in an electrolyte media comprising an acidic aqueous solution of at least one chloride salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides, the solution having a concentration from about 1N to saturation; b. utilizing a feed sulfide of the metal having an average particle size smaller than about 60 mesh U.S. Standard; c. maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte media at about 60*- 105*C; d. maintaining the pH of the electrolyte media bEtween about 0.01 - 3.9; e. using an anode current density in excess of about 12 amperes per square foot.

Claim 29

In the process for the electrolytic recovery of sulfur and metals of Groups I B, II B, V A, VI A of the Periodic Table and lead from their sulfides and mixed sulfides, the improvement which comprises: a. conducting the electrolysis in an electrolyte media comprising an acidic aqueous solution of at least one chloride salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides, the solution having a concentration from about 1N to saturation; b. utilizing a feed sulfide of the metal having an average particle size smaller than about 60 mesh U.S. Standard; c. maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte media at about 60*- 105*C; d. maintaining the pH of the electrolyte media bEtween about 0.01 - 3.9; e. using an anode current density in excess of about 12 amperes per square foot.

Claim 30

A process for the dissociation of metals from their sulfides, mixed sulfides, and mixtures thereof, by electrolysis with the formation of elemental sulfur, which process comprises: a. providing an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell including at least an anode and a cathode, the electrolyte comprising an acidic aqueous solution of at least one chloride salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides, the solution having a concentration from about 1N to saturation; b. mixing with the electrolyte a solid feed sulfide of the metal having an average particle size smaller than about 60 mesh U.S. Standard; and c. maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte media at about 60* to 105* C, and the pH of the electrolyte media between about 0.01 to about 3.9 while introducing electric current into the electrolytic cell to provide an anode current density above about 12 amperes per square foot to dissociate the metal sulfide into metal ions and elemental sulfur.

Claim 31

A process for the dissociation of metals from their sulfides, mixed sulfides, and mixtures thereof, by electrolysis with the formation of elemental sulfur, which process comprises: a. providing an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell including at least an anode and a cathode, the electrolyte comprising an acidic aqueous solution of at least one chloride salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides, the solution having a concentration from about 1N to saturation; b. mixing with the electrolyte a solid feed sulfide of the metal having an average particle size smaller than about 60 mesh U.S. Standard; and c. maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte media at about 60* to 105* C, and the pH of the electrolyte media between about 0.01 to about 3.9 while introducing electric current into the electrolytic cell to provide an anode current density above about 12 amperes per square foot to dissociate the metal sulfide into metal ions and elemental sulfur.