US4003740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of copper from copper sulfide ores containing copper and iron
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1976-01-06
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Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1996-01-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a cyclic process for recovering copper from sulfide ores containing copper and iron which comprises reacting the sulfide ore with sulfur dioxide gas at a temperature of at least about 500° C. to form elemental sulfur, removing the elemental sulfur, reacting the residual solids with concentrated sulfuric acid at a temperature of about 180° to 500° C. to form copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide gas, recycling the sulfur dioxide gas for reaction with additional ore, roasting the remaining solids at a temperature of about 400° C. to 900° C., leaching the roasted solids with an aqueous solution to solubilize the copper sulfate and recovering copper from the solubilized copper sulfate. In another embodiment of the invention, the roasting step is eliminated by removing magnetite from the solids remaining after removal of the elemental sulfur.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale K. Huggins
- 👤 Lowell R. Anderson
- 👤 Fred J. Gefri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:51
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0071; C22B15/0002; C22B15/0004; C22B15/0006; C22B15/001; C22B15/0013; C22B15/0017; C22B15/0082; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A cyclic process for recovering copper from sulfide ores containing copper and iron which comprises: a. reacting the sulfide ore with sulfur dioxide gas at a temperature of at least about 500° C., thereby forming elemental sulfur, magnetite and a copper sulfide b. condensing and removing the elemental sulfur from the reaction mixture, c. reacting the residual solids with concentrated sulfuric acid at a temperature of about 180° to 500° C., thereby forming copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide gas, d. recycling the sulfur dioxide gas to step (a) e. separating the solids comprising magnetite and copper sulfate from the liquid phase, f. roasting the separated solids at a temperature of about 400° to 900° C., g. leaching the roasted solids with an aqueous solution comprising water or dilute sulfuric acid, thereby solubilizing the copper sulfate, h. separating the solids comprising magnetite and gangue from the liquid phase and i. recovering copper from the solubilized copper sulfate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A cyclic process for recovering copper from sulfide ores containing copper and iron which comprises: a. reacting the sulfide ore with sulfur dioxide gas at a temperature of at least about 500° C., thereby forming elemental sulfur, magnetite and a copper sulfide b. condensing and removing the elemental sulfur from the reaction mixture, c. reacting the residual solids with concentrated sulfuric acid at a temperature of about 180° to 500° C., thereby forming copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide gas, d. recycling the sulfur dioxide gas to step (a) e. separating the solids comprising magnetite and copper sulfate from the liquid phase, f. roasting the separated solids at a temperature of about 400° to 900° C., g. leaching the roasted solids with an aqueous solution comprising water or dilute sulfuric acid, thereby solubilizing the copper sulfate, h. separating the solids comprising magnetite and gangue from the liquid phase and i. recovering copper from the solubilized copper sulfate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfide ore is chalcopyrite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2 wherein step (a) is carried out at a temperature of at least about 650° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2 wherein step (c) is carried out at a temperature of about 300° to 400° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2 whereisn step (f) is carried out at a temperature of about 600° to 700° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the aqueous solution of step (g) is dilute sulfuric acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the dilute sulfuric acid is employed in amount to produce a pH of 0 to about 4.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the dilute sulfuric acid is employed in amount to produce a pH of 0 to about 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A cyclic process for recovering copper from copper sulfite ores containing copper and iron which comprises: a. reacting the sulfide ore with sulfur dioxide gas at a temperature of at least about 500° C., thereby forming elemental sulfur, magnetite and a copper sulfide, b. condensing and removing the elemental sulfur from the reaction mixture, c. removing magnetite from the residual solids by magnetic separation, d. reacting the solids with concentrated sulfuric acid at a temperature of about 180° to 500° C., thereby forming copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide gas, e. recycling the sulfur dioxide gas to step (a), f. leaching the solids with an aqueous solution comprising water or dilute sulfuric acid, thereby solubilizing the copper sulfate and g. recovering copper from the solubilized copper sulfate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
A cyclic process for recovering copper from copper sulfite ores containing copper and iron which comprises: a. reacting the sulfide ore with sulfur dioxide gas at a temperature of at least about 500° C., thereby forming elemental sulfur, magnetite and a copper sulfide, b. condensing and removing the elemental sulfur from the reaction mixture, c. removing magnetite from the residual solids by magnetic separation, d. reacting the solids with concentrated sulfuric acid at a temperature of about 180° to 500° C., thereby forming copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide gas, e. recycling the sulfur dioxide gas to step (a), f. leaching the solids with an aqueous solution comprising water or dilute sulfuric acid, thereby solubilizing the copper sulfate and g. recovering copper from the solubilized copper sulfate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the sulfide ore is chalcopyrite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 10 wherein step (a) is carried out at a temperature of at least about 650° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 10 wherein step (d) is carried out at a temperature of about 300° to 400° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the aqueous solution of step (g) is dilute sulfuric acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the dilute sulfuric acid is employed in amount to produce a pH of 0 to about 4.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the dilute sulfuric acid is employed in amount to produce a pH of 0 to about 1.
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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) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |