US3922167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acidification of precipitate copper slurry prior to filtration and drying
Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
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Filing: 1974-11-08
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-11-08
Abstract
Abstract In the filtration of precipitate copper from aqueous slurries having a pH greater than 2 wherein a filter cake is formed and air is blown through the filter cake for drying, the improvement comprising adding sulfuric acid to the slurry prior to filtration to adjust the pH of the slurry to between about 0.5 and about 2, whereby the drying of the filter cake is facilitated and a low moisture filter cake is consistantly produced. The improved process is particularly advantageous in the filtration of precipitate copper slurries obtained by copper cementation contacting procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert D Pernichele
- 👤 William D Southard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:27
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0086; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0091; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
IN THE PROCESS OF FILTERING PRECIPITATE COPPER FROM AQUEOUS SLURRIES CONTAINING DISSOLVED COPPER VALUES ND HAVING A PH OF GREATER THAN 2, WHEREIN A FILTER CAKE IS FORMED AND AIR IS BLOWN THROUGH THE FILTER CAKE FOR DRYING, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ADDING CULFURIC ACID TO THE SLURRY TO REDUCE ITS PH TO BETWEEN ABOUT 0.5 AND ABOUT 2 PRIOR TO THE FILTRATION AND DRYING, WHEREBY THE DRYING OF THE FILTER CAKE IS FACILITATED AND A LOW MOISTURE FILTER CAKE IIS PRODUCED.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
IN THE PROCESS OF FILTERING PRECIPITATE COPPER FROM AQUEOUS SLURRIES CONTAINING DISSOLVED COPPER VALUES ND HAVING A PH OF GREATER THAN 2, WHEREIN A FILTER CAKE IS FORMED AND AIR IS BLOWN THROUGH THE FILTER CAKE FOR DRYING, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ADDING CULFURIC ACID TO THE SLURRY TO REDUCE ITS PH TO BETWEEN ABOUT 0.5 AND ABOUT 2 PRIOR TO THE FILTRATION AND DRYING, WHEREBY THE DRYING OF THE FILTER CAKE IS FACILITATED AND A LOW MOISTURE FILTER CAKE IIS PRODUCED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the aqueous slurries are obtained by contacting aqueous solutions containing ferric ions and dissolved copper values with metallic iron to precipitate the copper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein said aqueous solutions are obtained from leaching copper-bearing material with an acidic aqueous leach solution containing ferric and sulfate ions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process of leaching copper values from a copper-bearing material and recovering the copper values from the pregnant leach solution, comprising leaching said copper-bearing material with an acidic, aqueous, leach solution which contains ferric and sulfate ions and has a pH of about 3 or less; contacting the pregnant leach solution with a metal which is higher in the electromotive series than copper to precipitate copper values from the solution, thereby forming a slurry; adding sulfuric acid to the slurry to adjust the pH thereof to between about 0.5 and about 2; filtering the slurry to form a filter cake containing the precipitated copper and a filtrate comprising the aqueous mother liquor; and drying the filter cake by passing air therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process of leaching copper values from a copper-bearing material and recovering the copper values from the pregnant leach solution, comprising leaching said copper-bearing material with an acidic, aqueous, leach solution which contains ferric and sulfate ions and has a pH of about 3 or less; contacting the pregnant leach solution with a metal which is higher in the electromotive series than copper to precipitate copper values from the solution, thereby forming a slurry; adding sulfuric acid to the slurry to adjust the pH thereof to between about 0.5 and about 2; filtering the slurry to form a filter cake containing the precipitated copper and a filtrate comprising the aqueous mother liquor; and drying the filter cake by passing air therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process in accordance with claim 4, wherein the filtrate is recycled for further use as said acidic, aqueous leach solution in the leaching of the copper-bearing material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process in accordance with claim 4, wherein the metal is iron.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3194653A
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US3330650A
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US3634071A
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US3669651A
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US3868439A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |