US3772003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the electrolytic recovery of lead, silver and zinc from their ore
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-07
•
Granted: 1973-11-13
•
Expires: 1992-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of extracting any or all of zinc, silver and lead from their mixed sulfide ores, and ore concentrates. The method comprises electrolysing a slurry of the finely ground ore in the presence of a catalyst in the anode chamber or compartment of an electrolytic cell, said catalyst comprising an ion complex of a cuprous halide (CuX), in aqueous hydrogen halide. Chloride is the preferred halide. The ion complex of cuprous halide under the influence of an applied electric current initiates a reaction generating an oxidizing species which attacks and oxidizes the solids in the anode chamber or compartment. Cupric halide (CuX2), preferably cupric chloride, is also added for the purpose of suppressing evolution of hydrogen sulfide, particularly where iron and zinc sulphides are present. An ion-selective permeable membrane is used to separate the anode compartment, containing ore slurry and reactants, from the cathode compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 J Gordy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:21
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C1/00; C25C7/00; C25C7/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 1 comprising treating the electrolyzed solid slurry from step (a) with aqueous ammonia, aqueous thiosulfate solution or aqueous cyanide solution to produce the respective soluble silver ion complex, in the case where silver is present in the ore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein aqueous ammonia is added in step (b) and wherein the residue from step (b) containing lead hydroxide is treated with a strong base to produce a filtrate containing soluble plumbate ion in the case where the ore contains lead.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the pH in step (b) on addition of ammonia is in the range of 8 to 10.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the cyanide is a sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the partitioning means is a porous membrane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein the membrane is formed of sintered ceramic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the membrane contains pores having diameters not over 35 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the ion complex in step (a) comprises cuprous halide (CuX), together with sufficient cupric halide (CuX2) to suppress the evolution of hydrogen sulfide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein said complex solution contains from about 0.1 to about 0.6 moles of cuprOus chloride per liter of solution and from about 3 to about 6 moles HCl per liter of solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the thiosulfate is an alkali metal thiosulfate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the concentration of hydrogen halide in the cuprous halide complex solution is at least 3N.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the strong base in step (c) is chosen from alkali metal hydroxides and strongly alkaline amines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the strong base is chosen from sodium hydroxide and diethylamine tetramine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein an electric current is passed through the solution of cuprous halide complex ion and aqueous hydrogen halide in the anode compartment for a suitable induction period before any ore is added, whereby to form a reactive oxidizing agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 15 wherein the induction time is 5 to 30 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the hydrogen halide is hydrogen chloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein the copper halide is at least predominantly copper chloride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising separating the solution from step (b) and treating it with copper metal to precipitate metallic silver.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising treating the filtrate from step (c) with carbon dioxide to precipitate lead carbonate (PbCO3), separating the precipitate and heating it to produce lead oxide, and heating the oxide to produce lead.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the pH in step (c) on addition of strong base is in the range of 12 to 14.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising recyling the filtrate from step (b) containing any electrolyzed zinc in the form of zinc ions, into the cathode compartment and depositing the zinc as zinc metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1284910A
Cited
US2673179A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |