Patent US3971652A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3971652A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ammoniacal extraction of copper from metallic materials

Assignee: Metallurgical Dev Co
•
Filing: 1975-03-28
•
Granted: 1976-07-27
•
Expires: 1995-03-28
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method of leaching copper values from copper dross obtained from pyro-metallurgical lead bullion by contacting finely-divided particles of the copper dross with an aqueous ammoniacal solution, preferably a solution of ammonium carbonate and ammonium hydroxide, to dissolve copper from the dross. The leaching will usually be carried out in a gas containing free oxygen and the leaching solution may advantageously contain sulphate ions in addition to carbonate ions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph Lindsey Bryson, deceased

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 22:03
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0093; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0078; C22B7/00; C22B7/04; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 107 words
A method of leaching copper values from copper dross obtained from pyro-metallurgical lead bullion, comprising contacting finely-divided particles of the copper dross in the form of a metallic lead matrix containing copper and copper compound inclusions with an aqueous ammoniacal solution to dissolve copper from the dross, wherein the leaching solution further contains both sulphate and carbonate ions, the ammonium concentration being at least 15 grams per liter, expressed as NH 3 , there being from 0.5 to 4.0 moles of ammonia per mole of total carbonate and sulphate ions, and the mole ratio of sulphate to carbonate in the leaching solution being from 1:3 to 3:1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 107 words
A method of leaching copper values from copper dross obtained from pyro-metallurgical lead bullion, comprising contacting finely-divided particles of the copper dross in the form of a metallic lead matrix containing copper and copper compound inclusions with an aqueous ammoniacal solution to dissolve copper from the dross, wherein the leaching solution further contains both sulphate and carbonate ions, the ammonium concentration being at least 15 grams per liter, expressed as NH 3 , there being from 0.5 to 4.0 moles of ammonia per mole of total carbonate and sulphate ions, and the mole ratio of sulphate to carbonate in the leaching solution being from 1:3 to 3:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising carrying out the leaching in the presence of an oxidizing gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising subsequently treating the leachate solution with an oxidizing gas to oxidize cuprous to cupric ions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature of the leaching solution is maintained at between 20° and 100°C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pH value of the leaching solution is between 9.0 and 10.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising stripping the leachate solution of ammonia to yield a solid copper salt precipitate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising recovering copper powder in the leachate solution by treatment with a reducing agent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1440186A Cited
US2647830A Cited
US2727819A Cited
US3224873A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-07-27 1980-01-26 1980-07-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-07-27 1984-01-26 1984-07-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-07-27 1988-01-26 1988-07-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag