US3974253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leaching of copper ores to recover sulfur and silver catalyst
Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
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Filing: 1975-01-15
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1995-01-15
Abstract
Abstract In the oxidative leaching of copper ores with a silver catalyst initially dissolved in the leaching liquor, all or a portion of the silver precipitates and is recovered with the tailings. Elemental sulfur is extracted from the tailings, and the tailings are treated with concentrated sulfuric acid in the presence of oxygen to recover silver values for recycle to the leaching.
Inventors
- 👤 George J. Snell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:46
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0071; C01; C01B; C01B17/00; C01B17/02; C01B17/06; C22B11/00; C22B11/04; C22B7/00; C22B7/006; C22B7/007; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In a process for the oxidative leaching of a copper ore with a leaching solution in the presence of a catalytic amount of silver initially dissolved in the leaching solution to solubilize copper values from the ore, wherein leaching solution containing dissolved copper values is separated from solid tailings, said solid tailings including silver employed as catalyst and elemental sulfur, the improvement comprising: extracting elemental sulfur from the solid tailings to produce extracted solid tailings containing no more than 2% by weight, elemental sulfur; leaching silver from said extracted solid tailings by contacting the tailings with molecular oxygen and concentrated sulfuric acid having a concentration of at least 50 weight percent to produce a sulfuric acid solution containing dissolved silver; and recycling leached silver, as catalyst, to said oxidative leaching of the copper ore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a process for the oxidative leaching of a copper ore with a leaching solution in the presence of a catalytic amount of silver initially dissolved in the leaching solution to solubilize copper values from the ore, wherein leaching solution containing dissolved copper values is separated from solid tailings, said solid tailings including silver employed as catalyst and elemental sulfur, the improvement comprising: extracting elemental sulfur from the solid tailings to produce extracted solid tailings containing no more than 2% by weight, elemental sulfur; leaching silver from said extracted solid tailings by contacting the tailings with molecular oxygen and concentrated sulfuric acid having a concentration of at least 50 weight percent to produce a sulfuric acid solution containing dissolved silver; and recycling leached silver, as catalyst, to said oxidative leaching of the copper ore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the leaching of silver is effected at a temperature of from 180° to 300°F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the leaching of silver is effected at a pressure of from 0 to 500 psig.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the leaching of silver is effected at an oxygen partial pressure of from 3 to 100 psia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the elemental sulfur is extracted from the solid tailings by the use of an aromatic extraction liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 4 wherein elemental sulfur is extracted from the tailings by the use of pressured hot water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the extracted solid tailings contain no more than 0.2 weight percent elemental sulfur.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 2 wherein a first portion of the sulfuric acid solution containing dissolved silver is treated to cement silver therefrom, said cement silver being dissolved in a second portion of the sulfuric acid solution containing dissolved silver for recycle of leached silver, as catalyst to the oxidative leaching of the copper ore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the elemental sulfur is extracted at a temperature of from 50°F to 400°F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentrated sulfuric acid is employed as oleum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfuric acid concentration is at least 80%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1937631A
Cited
GB1001486A
Cited
US3816105A
Cited
US3780167A
Cited
US3856913A
Cited
US3886257A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |