Patent US3886257A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3886257A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sulfate leaching of copper ores using silver catalyst
Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
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Filing: 1972-11-29
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1992-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Copper is oxidatively leached from a copper bearing ore in the presence of a catalytic amount of silver ions to decrease leaching times. The oxidative agent may be ferric sulfate, dilute sulfuric acid in the presence of added oxygen, or concentrated sulfuric acid.
Inventors
- 👤 George J Snell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:29
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0071; C01; C01G; C01G3/00; C01G3/10; C01G49/00; C01G49/14; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
IN A PROCESS FOR THE OXIDATIVE LEACHING OF COPPER ORES WITH A LEACHING SOLUTION COMPRISING A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AQUEOUS FERRIC SULFATE, AN AQUEOUS MIXTURE OF FERRIC SULFATE AND SULFURIC ACID, AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID AND CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID, SAID OXIDATIVE LEACHING BEING EFFECTED IN THE PRESENCE OF MOLECULAR OXYGEN WHEN SAID MEMBER IS AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: EFFECTING SAID LEACHING IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYTIC AMOUNT OF SILVER, SAID CATALYTIC AMOUNT OF SILVER BEING AT LEAST 25 PPM INITIALLY DISSOLVED IN SAID LEACHING SOLUTION.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
IN A PROCESS FOR THE OXIDATIVE LEACHING OF COPPER ORES WITH A LEACHING SOLUTION COMPRISING A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AQUEOUS FERRIC SULFATE, AN AQUEOUS MIXTURE OF FERRIC SULFATE AND SULFURIC ACID, AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID AND CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID, SAID OXIDATIVE LEACHING BEING EFFECTED IN THE PRESENCE OF MOLECULAR OXYGEN WHEN SAID MEMBER IS AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: EFFECTING SAID LEACHING IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYTIC AMOUNT OF SILVER, SAID CATALYTIC AMOUNT OF SILVER BEING AT LEAST 25 PPM INITIALLY DISSOLVED IN SAID LEACHING SOLUTION.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said silver is initially dissoLved in said leaching solution in an amount from about 25 to about 10,000 ppm, measured as elemental silver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said silver is initially dissolved in said leaching solution in an amount from about 50 to about 500 ppm, measured as elemental silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said ore is a complex mineral sulfide ore containing copper and iron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said leaching solution is an aqueous solution containing at least 90%, by weight, sulfuric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said leaching is effected at a temperature from about 150*F to about 235*F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said member is aqueous sulfuric acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said leaching is effected at a temperature from about 150*F to about 235*F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said sulfuric acid is present in the leach solution in an amount from about 0.5% to about 5.0%, by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for oxidatively leaching a copper ore, comprising: leaching said copper ore with a leaching solution containing aqueous ferric sulfate and a catalytic amount of silver of at least 25 ppm initially dissolved in the leaching solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for oxidatively leaching a copper ore, comprising: leaching said copper ore with a leaching solution containing aqueous ferric sulfate and a catalytic amount of silver of at least 25 ppm initially dissolved in the leaching solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said silver is initially dissolved in said leaching solution in an amount from about 25 to about 10,000 ppm, measured as elemental silver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said ferric sulfate is present in the leach solution in an amount from about 2 to about 40%, by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said ferric sulfate is present in an amount from about 10 to about 40%, by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said leach solution further comprises sulfuric acid in an amount from about 0 to about 20%, by weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said leach solution further comprises sulfuric acid in an amount from about 1 to about 5%, by weight.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said leaching is effected at a temperature from about 150*F to about 235*F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said leaching is effected at a temperature from about 180*F to about 225*F.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for oxidatively leaching a copper ore, comprising: leaching said copper ore with an aqueous leaching solution comprising from about 2 to about 40%, by weight, of ferric sulfate and from about 0 to about 20%, by weight, sulfuric acid, said leaching solution having initially dissolved therein from about 25 to about 10,000 ppm of silver, measured as elemental silver, said leaching being effected at a temperature from about 150*F to about 235*F. to produce a pregnant leach solution containing copper values from the ore dissolved in the leaching solution as cupric sulfate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for oxidatively leaching a copper ore, comprising: leaching said copper ore with an aqueous leaching solution comprising from about 2 to about 40%, by weight, of ferric sulfate and from about 0 to about 20%, by weight, sulfuric acid, said leaching solution having initially dissolved therein from about 25 to about 10,000 ppm of silver, measured as elemental silver, said leaching being effected at a temperature from about 150*F to about 235*F. to produce a pregnant leach solution containing copper values from the ore dissolved in the leaching solution as cupric sulfate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said copper ore is a complex mineral sulfide ore containing copper and iron.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 19 wherein said leaching solution comprises from about 1 to about 5%, by weight, sulfuric acid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 20 and further comprising: removing solids from said pregnant leach solution; contacting said pregnant leach solution with molecular oxygen to precipitate iron values dissolved from the ore and regenerate ferric sulfate; recovering copper values from the leach solution; and recycling the leach solution to said leaching.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said leaching is effected in the presence of molecular oxygen.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |