Patent US3880650A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3880650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of copper from chalcopyrite
Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
•
Filing: 1974-01-28
•
Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1994-01-28
Abstract
Abstract Copper concentrate is mixed with iron and a fusible salt or fusible salt mixture which is molten at the roasting temperature. The mixture is roasted in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature below 475*C (preferably between 350*C-390*C) to produce a product containing free copper and pyrrhotite. The salt acts as a solvent for the reaction and enables copper to be recovered economically from copper concentrate without the evolution of sulfide pollutants into the atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 J Paul Pemsler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:45
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0002; C22B15/001; C22B15/0021; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0078; C22B15/0095; C22B15/0097; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING COPPER FROM A CONCENTRATE CONTAINING COPPER AND SULFUR COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: A. MIXING THE CONCENTRATE WITH IRON AND A FUSIBLE IONIC SALT, B. ROASTING THE MIXTURE OF STEP (A) AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 475*C TO PRODUCE A REACTION PRODUCT CONTAINING ELEMENTAL COPPER AND PYRRHOTITE, AND C. SEPARATING THE COPPER FROM THE REACTION PRODUCT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING COPPER FROM A CONCENTRATE CONTAINING COPPER AND SULFUR COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: A. MIXING THE CONCENTRATE WITH IRON AND A FUSIBLE IONIC SALT, B. ROASTING THE MIXTURE OF STEP (A) AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 475*C TO PRODUCE A REACTION PRODUCT CONTAINING ELEMENTAL COPPER AND PYRRHOTITE, AND C. SEPARATING THE COPPER FROM THE REACTION PRODUCT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
8 words
is molten at temperatures of 475*C or lower;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
8 words
is molten at temperatures of 475*C or lower;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the roasting which takes place in step (b) is performed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
7 words
molten at temperatures of 475*C or lower,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
7 words
molten at temperatures of 475*C or lower,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as set forth in claim 2 wherein in step (a), an excess amount of iron over the stoichiometric amount required is mixed with the concentrate and salt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
exhibits ionic characteristics to act as a solvent for the concentrate;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
exhibits ionic characteristics to act as a solvent for the concentrate;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
5 words
a solvent for the material,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
5 words
a solvent for the material,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
6 words
capable of dissolving sulfide ions, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
6 words
capable of dissolving sulfide ions, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein prior to separating the copper from the reaction product, the reaction product is quenched in water to dissolve the ionic salt and produce a slurry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
7 words
is capable of dissolving sulfide ions; and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
7 words
is capable of dissolving sulfide ions; and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
is unreactive with the reactants and products of the reaction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
is unreactive with the reactants and products of the reaction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
unreactive with the reactants and products of the reaction; b. roasting the mixture of step (a) at a temperature below 475*C to partially dissolve the material into the salt and to produce a reaction product containing elemental copper and pyrrhotite, said salt acting as a solvent enabling the reduction of copper by iron to occur below 475*C without the evolution of sulfide pollutants into the atmosphere, and c. separating the copper from the reaction product.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
unreactive with the reactants and products of the reaction; b. roasting the mixture of step (a) at a temperature below 475*C to partially dissolve the material into the salt and to produce a reaction product containing elemental copper and pyrrhotite, said salt acting as a solvent enabling the reduction of copper by iron to occur below 475*C without the evolution of sulfide pollutants into the atmosphere, and c. separating the copper from the reaction product.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as set forth in claim 4 also including the step of feeding the reaction product to a magnetic separator to remove magnetic iron from the reaction product.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as set forth in claim 5 wherein in step (c) the copper is separated from the iron by floatation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein prior to floatation the water quenched reaction product is subjected to a solid-liquid separation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as set forth in claim 7 wherein the copper that is separated is refined in a melting furnace.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein in step (b) the mixture is roasted at a temperature of between about 350*C and 390*C for one hour.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as set forth in claim 5 wherein the magnetic iron removed in the magnetic separator is recycled and is mixed with the concentrate and fusible salt in step (a).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process as set forth in claim 10 wherein water and dissolved ionic salt are withdrawn from the slurry to leave solids and the ionic salt is recovered and recycled to be mixed with the concentrate and iron in step (a).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as set forth in claim 11 wherein the solids are washed with water in a countercurrent decantation wash.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process as set forth in claim 12 wherein the water used to wash the solids is cycled after flowing through the countercurrent decantation wash to quench the reaction product.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein in step (a) the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate has the following properties:
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as set forth in claim 14 wherein a eutectic mixture of two or more salts is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate in step (a).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein A chloride eutectic is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate in step (a).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein a mixture of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate in step (a).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein a eutectic mixture of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate in step (a).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein a member of eutectic salts selected from the group consisting of aluminum chloride-sodium chloride and iron chloride-sodium chloride is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate in step (a).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein in step (b) the mixture is roasted at a temperature between the range of 350*C-390*C.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process as is set forth in claim 20 wherein the iron that is mixed with the concentrate and ionic salt in step (a) is particulated to a size of about -200 mesh.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein in step (c) the copper is separated from the reaction product by leaching the reaction product with an ammonia ammonium carbonate solution and subsequently electrowinning the copper.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for recovering copper from a material containing copper and sulfur, the material including a member selected from the group consisting of chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covellite, pyrite, cubanite and idaite comprising the following steps: a. mixing the material with iron and a fusible ionic salt; the salt being,
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for recovering copper from a material containing copper and sulfur, the material including a member selected from the group consisting of chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covellite, pyrite, cubanite and idaite comprising the following steps: a. mixing the material with iron and a fusible ionic salt; the salt being,
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process as set forth in claim 23 wherein the material includes chalcopyrite.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as set forth in claim 24 wherein the roasting which takes place in step (b) is performed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as set forth in claim 25 wherein in step (a), an excess amount of iron over the stoichiometric amount required is mixed with the material and salt.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process as set forth in claim 24 wherein prior to separating the copper from the reaction product, the reaction product is quenched in water to dissolve the ionic salt and produce a slurry.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as set forth in claim 27 also including the step of feeding the reaction product to a magnetic separator to remove magnetic iron from the reaction product.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as set forth in claim 28 wherein in step (c) the copper is separated from the iron by floatation.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as set forth in claim 29 wherein prior to floatation, the water quenched reaction product is subjected to a solid-liquid separation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as set forth in claim 30 wherein the copper that is separated is refined in a melting furnace.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process as set forth in claim 24 wherein in step (b) the mixture is roasted at a temperature of between about 350*C and 390*C for one hour.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as set forth in claim 28 wherein the magnetic iron removed in the magnetic separator is recycled and is mixed with the material and fusible salt in step (a).
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process as set forth in claim 33 wherein water and dissolved ionic salt are withdrawn from the slurry to leave solids and the ionic salt is recovered anD recycled to be mixed with the material and iron in step (a).
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the solids are washed with water in a countercurrent decantation wash.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process as set forth in claim 35 wherein the water used to wash the solids is cycled after flowing through the countercurrent decantation wash to quench the reaction product.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as set forth in claim 24 wherein a eutectic mixture of two or more salts is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and material in step (a).
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as set forth in claim 27 wherein a chloride eutectic is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and concentrate in step (a).
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process as set forth in claim 23 wherein a mixture of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and material in step (a).
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as set forth in claim 24 wherein a eutectic mixture of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and material in step (a).
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process as set forth in claim 24 wherein a member of eutectic salt selected from the group consisting of aluminum chloride-sodium chloride and iron chloride-sodium chloride is the ionic salt that is mixed with the iron and material in step (a).
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as set forth in claim 23 wherein in step (b) the mixture is roasted at a temperature between the range of 350*C-390*C.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as set forth in claim 43 wherein the iron that is mixed with the material and ionic salt in step (a) is particulated to a size of about -200 mesh.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process as set forth in claim 23 wherein in step (c) the copper is separated from the reaction product by leaching the reaction product with an ammonia ammonium carbonate solution and subsequently electrowinning the copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |