US4013457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for the recovery of cuprous chloride in the presence of metal impurities
Assignee: Cyprus Mines Corp
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Filing: 1975-02-24
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1995-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for separating cuprous chloride from a solution comprising cuprous chloride and one or more of a number of metal impurities, the process comprising crystallizing the cuprous chloride from the solution in the presence of copper as cupric chloride in a concentration of at least about 20 grams per liter. In one embodiment, the process is employed for recovering substantially pure copper from copper sulfide concentrates containing one or more metal impurities, the basic process comprising leaching the copper sulfide concentrates with ferric chloride to produce a leach solution comprising cuprous chloride, cupric chloride, ferrous chloride and the metal impurities, crystallizing a substantial portion of the cuprous chloride from the leach solution in the presence of cupric ion in a concentration of at least about 20 grams per liter in order to produce substantially pure cuprous chloride and a mother liquor, separating the crystallized cuprous chloride from the mother liquor, reducing the crystallized cuprous chloride to substantially pure elemental copper, treating a substantial portion of the mother liquor with oxygen and hydrochloric acid to produce iron oxide, cupric chloride and ferric chloride, and treating the remainder of the mother liquor in order to remove the impurities.
Inventors
- 👤 Duane N. Goens
- 👤 Paul R. Kruesi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:15
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0093; C01; C01G; C01G3/00; C01G3/04; C01G3/05; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0069; C22B15/0086; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A process for improving the separation of cuprous chloride from at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth and arsenic wherein the cuprous chloride and impurities are in solution comprising: a. crystallizing the cuprous chloride from solution in the presence of cupric ion, the cupric ion concentration being maintained at at least about 20 grams per liter during the crystallization; and b. recovering the cuprous chloride crystals from the solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for improving the separation of cuprous chloride from at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth and arsenic wherein the cuprous chloride and impurities are in solution comprising: a. crystallizing the cuprous chloride from solution in the presence of cupric ion, the cupric ion concentration being maintained at at least about 20 grams per liter during the crystallization; and b. recovering the cuprous chloride crystals from the solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solution solvent is ferrous chloride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solution solvent is sodium chloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of copper as cupric chloride is at least about 50 grams per liter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cuprous chloride solution being crystallized is reduced to a temperature of at least about 30° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the crystallized cuprous chloride is separated from the remaining solution and reduced to elemental copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the metal impurity in solution is antimony.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the metal impurity in solution is bismuth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the metal impurity in solution is arsenic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a process for recovering copper from copper sulfide ores and concentrates containing at least one metal impurity selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth, and arsenic comprising leaching the copper sulfides to product a leach solution cmprising cuprous chloride, cupric chloride, ferrous chloride and the metal impurities; separating at least a portion of the cuprous chloride from the metal impurities and leach solution resulting in cuprous chloride crystals and a mother liquor; separating the cuprous chloride crystals from the mother liquor; reducing the crystallized cuprous chloride to elemental copper; treating a portion of the mother liquor with oxygen in order to produce iron oxide, cupric chloride and ferric chloride, and treating the remainder of the mother liquor in order to remove the impurities; the improvement comprising performing the cuprous chloride separation by crystallization in the presence of cupric ion being maintained in a concentration of at least about 20 grams per liter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a process for recovering copper from copper sulfide ores and concentrates containing at least one metal impurity selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth, and arsenic comprising leaching the copper sulfides to product a leach solution cmprising cuprous chloride, cupric chloride, ferrous chloride and the metal impurities; separating at least a portion of the cuprous chloride from the metal impurities and leach solution resulting in cuprous chloride crystals and a mother liquor; separating the cuprous chloride crystals from the mother liquor; reducing the crystallized cuprous chloride to elemental copper; treating a portion of the mother liquor with oxygen in order to produce iron oxide, cupric chloride and ferric chloride, and treating the remainder of the mother liquor in order to remove the impurities; the improvement comprising performing the cuprous chloride separation by crystallization in the presence of cupric ion being maintained in a concentration of at least about 20 grams per liter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the crystallized cuprous chloride is reduced by means of hydrogen reduction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the regenerated cupric chloride and ferric chloride are recycled to the leach phase of the process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a process for improving the separation of cuprous chloride from at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth and arsenic, wherein the cuprous chloride and impurities are in solution with at least one cuprous chloride solvent selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal chlorides, the alkaline earth metal chlorides, hydrochloric acid and ferrous chloride wherein the separation is performed by crystallizing a substantial portion of the cuprous chloride from the solution, the improvement comprising performing the separation in the presence of cupric ion being maintained at a concentration of at least about 20 grams per liter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a process for improving the separation of cuprous chloride from at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth and arsenic, wherein the cuprous chloride and impurities are in solution with at least one cuprous chloride solvent selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal chlorides, the alkaline earth metal chlorides, hydrochloric acid and ferrous chloride wherein the separation is performed by crystallizing a substantial portion of the cuprous chloride from the solution, the improvement comprising performing the separation in the presence of cupric ion being maintained at a concentration of at least about 20 grams per liter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the solution solvent is ferrous chloride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the solution solvent is sodium chloride.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the concentration of copper as cupric chloride is at least about 50 grams per liter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the solution being crystallized is reduced to a temperature of at least about 30° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the crystallized cuprous chloride is separated from the remaining solution and reduced to elemental copper.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the metal impurity in solution is antimony.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the metal impurity in solution is bismuth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the metal impurity in solution is arsenic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 13 wherein at least about 20 percent of the cuprous chloride is crystallized from the solution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cupric ion is in the form of cupric chloride.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the cupric ion is in the form of cupric chloride.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the cupric ion is in the form of cupric chloride.
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) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |