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US3853724A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for electrowinning of copper values from solid particles in a sulfuric acid electrolyte

Assignee: HERRETT W US
•
Filing: 1973-07-24
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1993-07-24
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Abstract

Abstract A process for electrowinning of copper values from cement copper and/or copper sulfide concentrates in which the copper bearing material is agitated in a cell in the presence of H2SO4 while temperatures are maintained above 60*C, current densities are above 60 amperes per square foot of cathode but below that current density at which electrolyte boils and deposited copper plate becomes brittle. The process is characterized by the fact that a concentration of soluble iron, in the range from 10 to 40 grams/liter, is kept in solution in the electrolyte at all times. The iron ranges from 20-40 gpl in the case of cement copper, and from 10-35 gpl in the case of copper sulfide concentrates. The soluble iron content is maintained high enough to provide a reservoir of ferric ions to aid in oxidizing and/or leaching of the copper. Current densities must be high enough to effect electrolysis with the reduction of copper and liberation of hydrogen gas in quantity to prevent attack of the cathode by ferric iron.

Inventors

  • 👤 C Wojcik
  • 👤 B Wojcik

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 09:55
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C1/00; C25C1/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
A PROCESS FOR ELECTROWINNING OF COPPER VALUES FROM A FINELY DIVIDED COPPER-BEARING SOLID SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF CEMENT COPPER AND COPPER SULFIDES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ESTABLISHING A SOURCE O COPPER FOR LEACHING BY CONTINUOUSLY AGITATING A QUANTITY OF SAID COPPER-BEARING SOLIDS IN AN H2SO4 ELECTRLYTE CONTAINED IN AN ELECTRLYTIC CELL HAVING A CATHODE AND AN ANODE, ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING IN SAID ELECTRLYTE A DISSOLVED IRON CONCENTRATION OF AT LEAST TEN GRAMS PER LITER AND LEACHING COPPER FROM SAID SOURCE WHILE DEPOSITING COPPER ON SAID CATHODE BY CONTINUOSLY PASSING A DIRECT CURRENT OF AT LEAST TWO VOLTS THROUGH SAID ELECTRLYTE BETWEEN SAID CATHODE AND ANODE AT A CURRENT DENSITY IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 60 AMPERES PER SQUARE FOOT OF CATHODE AREA WHEREBY TO EFFECT DEPOSITION OF COPPER ON SAID CATHODE CONCOMITTENTLY WITH LIBERATION OF HYDROGEN THEREAT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 138 words
A PROCESS FOR ELECTROWINNING OF COPPER VALUES FROM A FINELY DIVIDED COPPER-BEARING SOLID SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF CEMENT COPPER AND COPPER SULFIDES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ESTABLISHING A SOURCE O COPPER FOR LEACHING BY CONTINUOUSLY AGITATING A QUANTITY OF SAID COPPER-BEARING SOLIDS IN AN H2SO4 ELECTRLYTE CONTAINED IN AN ELECTRLYTIC CELL HAVING A CATHODE AND AN ANODE, ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING IN SAID ELECTRLYTE A DISSOLVED IRON CONCENTRATION OF AT LEAST TEN GRAMS PER LITER AND LEACHING COPPER FROM SAID SOURCE WHILE DEPOSITING COPPER ON SAID CATHODE BY CONTINUOSLY PASSING A DIRECT CURRENT OF AT LEAST TWO VOLTS THROUGH SAID ELECTRLYTE BETWEEN SAID CATHODE AND ANODE AT A CURRENT DENSITY IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 60 AMPERES PER SQUARE FOOT OF CATHODE AREA WHEREBY TO EFFECT DEPOSITION OF COPPER ON SAID CATHODE CONCOMITTENTLY WITH LIBERATION OF HYDROGEN THEREAT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process according to claim 1 in which a dissolved copper concentration of at least 20 grams per liter is maintained in the electrolyte.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process according to claim 1 in which said direct current has a voltage in the range from 2 volts to 5 volts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process according to claim 1 in which iron concentration of the electrolyte is established by the addition thereto of ferric sulfate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process according to claim 1 in which said copper-bearing solid comprises cement copper, and the iron content of said electrolyte is established in a range from 20-40 grams per liter by the addition thereto of ferric sulfate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The process according to claim 5 in which the H2SO4 content of said electrolyte is adjusted by increasing current density to decrease H2SO4 content and by decreasing current density to increase H2SO4 content.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The process according to claim 1 in which said copper bearing solid comprises a material in which the copper occurs as Cu2S, and the iron content of said electrolyte is established in the range of from 10 to 35 grams per liter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
The process according to claim 7 in which the H2SO4 content of said electrolyte is adjusted by increasing the density of said direct current to decrease H2SO4 and decreasing said density to increase said H2SO4.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2792342A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-12-09 1978-06-10 1978-12-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-12-09 1982-06-10 1982-12-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-12-09 1986-06-10 1986-12-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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