US3937657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrowinning of copper
Assignee: Anumin Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1974-12-17
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Granted: 1976-02-10
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Expires: 1994-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Copper is processed via solutions of copper salts, both cupric and cuprous, in acidified aqueous solutions containing organic nitriles. Methods of producting solutions of cuprous salts include reduction of cupric salts and oxidation of copper and copper sulphides. Solutions of cuprous salts are thermally or electrochemically disproportionated to produce copper and solutions of cupric salts.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan James Parker
- 👤 Winfield Earle Waghorne
- 👤 Dion Ewing Giles
- 👤 John Howard Sharp
- 👤 Robert Alexander
- 👤 David Michael Muir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:44
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C1/00; C25C1/12; C01; C01G; C01G3/00; C01G3/10; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0071; C22B15/0073; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0093; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of preparing copper cathodes by electrochemical disproportionation of a homogeneous solution containing cuprous sulfate, water, a nitrile selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, 2-hydroxycyanoethane and mixtures thereof, and sulfuric acid, comprising electrolysing the solution between inert anodes and copper cathodes in a cell, removing the anolyte containing cupric sulfate from the vicinity of the electrodes, replacing the removed anolyte by more of the said homogeneous solution and thus generating cathodic copper.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of preparing copper cathodes by electrochemical disproportionation of a homogeneous solution containing cuprous sulfate, water, a nitrile selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, 2-hydroxycyanoethane and mixtures thereof, and sulfuric acid, comprising electrolysing the solution between inert anodes and copper cathodes in a cell, removing the anolyte containing cupric sulfate from the vicinity of the electrodes, replacing the removed anolyte by more of the said homogeneous solution and thus generating cathodic copper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the homogeneous solution being electrolysed is protected from gaseous oxidants, and contains at least 50% by volume water, sufficient sulfuric acid to maintain a pH of 3 or less, cuprous sulfate assaying at least 5 grams per liter cuprous ion and at least 2.5 moles of an organic nitrile selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, 2-hydroxycyanoethane and mixtures thereof, per mole of cuprous ion in solution, and is circulated past the electrodes with a current density of between 4 and 30 amps per square foot and at a temperature of between 20° and 45°C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the homogeneous solution contains at least 50% by volume water, from 2 to 20% sulfuric acid by volume, cuprous sulfate assaying at least 5 grams per liter cuprous ion and at least 2.5 moles of acetonitrile per mole of cuprous ion in solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the homogeneous solution contains at least 50% by volume water, from 2 to 20% sulfuric acid by volume, cuprous sulfate assaying at least 5 grams per liter cuprous ion and at least 2.5 moles of 2-hydroxycyanoethane per mole of cuprous ion in solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the homogeneous solution also contains an additive selected from the group consisting of glue, thiourea, salts of alkylaryl sulfonates and salts of alkylsulfonates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 in which the additive is glue.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of winning copper from cuprous sulfate solutions described herein as cuprous electrowinning, which comprises the electrochemical disproportionation of homogeneous solutions containing cuprous sulfate, water, an organic nitrile selected from the class consisting of acetonitrile, 2-hydroxycyanoethane and mixtures thereof, and sulfuric acid, by electrolysing these solutions between inert anodes and copper cathodes in a cell, removing the anolyte containing cupric sulfate from the vicinity of the electrodes, transferring the removed anolyte to a reduction vessel where the cupric sulfate content of the anolyte is reduced to cuprous sulfate and returning the resulting reduced cuprous sulfate solution to the cell.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of winning copper from cuprous sulfate solutions described herein as cuprous electrowinning, which comprises the electrochemical disproportionation of homogeneous solutions containing cuprous sulfate, water, an organic nitrile selected from the class consisting of acetonitrile, 2-hydroxycyanoethane and mixtures thereof, and sulfuric acid, by electrolysing these solutions between inert anodes and copper cathodes in a cell, removing the anolyte containing cupric sulfate from the vicinity of the electrodes, transferring the removed anolyte to a reduction vessel where the cupric sulfate content of the anolyte is reduced to cuprous sulfate and returning the resulting reduced cuprous sulfate solution to the cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the cupric sulfate is reduced by iron in the reduction vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method of copper powder electrorefining of particulate copper, comprising electrochemical disproportionation of homogeneous solutions as claimed in claim 1 in which the anolyte removed from the vicinity of the electrodes is contacted with materials containing copper, either in another part of the cell or in a separate reaction vessel so that the cupric sulfate and the copper are converted to cuprous sulfate solution and this solution is returned to the vicinity of the electrodes.
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) | 1979-02-09 | 1979-08-11 | 1980-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-09 | 1983-08-11 | 1984-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-09 | 1987-08-11 | 1988-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |