US4053305A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of copper and silver from sulfide concentrates
Assignee: United States Department of the Interior
•
Filing: 1976-10-15
•
Granted: 1977-10-11
•
Expires: 1996-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Copper and silver are recovered from complex sulfide ores or concentrates containing, in addition, metals such as lead, zinc, arsenic, antimony, and iron by leaching with a combination of ferrous chloride and oxygen.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary A. Smyres
- 👤 Philip R. Haskett
- 👤 Bernard J. Scheiner
- 👤 Roald E. Lindstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:32
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0093; C22B11/00; C22B11/04; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0069; C22B15/0091; C22B3/00; C22B3/04; C22B3/06; C22B3/10; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A process for recovering copper and silver from complex sulfide ores or concentrates containing copper, zinc, silver, lead, arsenic, antimony and iron comprising (1) treating a slurry of the ore or concentrate in an aqueous solution of ferrous chloride with gaseous oxygen at a temperature of about 100° to 115° C. and a pressure of about 20 to 80 psig for a time sufficient to solubilize copper and zinc, (2) filtering the resulting reaction mixture, (3) precipitating copper from the filtrate by addition of metallic iron, (4) treating the resulting copper-free filtrate for removal of zinc by solvent extraction and recycling the resulting ferrous chloride solution to step (1), (5) treating the residue from step (2) with an alkaline solution to sodium cyanide to solubilize the silver and, (6) electrolyzing the silver solution from step (5) to recover metallic silver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A process for recovering copper and silver from complex sulfide ores or concentrates containing copper, zinc, silver, lead, arsenic, antimony and iron comprising (1) treating a slurry of the ore or concentrate in an aqueous solution of ferrous chloride with gaseous oxygen at a temperature of about 100° to 115° C. and a pressure of about 20 to 80 psig for a time sufficient to solubilize copper and zinc, (2) filtering the resulting reaction mixture, (3) precipitating copper from the filtrate by addition of metallic iron, (4) treating the resulting copper-free filtrate for removal of zinc by solvent extraction and recycling the resulting ferrous chloride solution to step (1), (5) treating the residue from step (2) with an alkaline solution to sodium cyanide to solubilize the silver and, (6) electrolyzing the silver solution from step (5) to recover metallic silver.
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) | 1980-10-10 | 1981-04-11 | 1981-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-10 | 1985-04-11 | 1985-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-10 | 1989-04-11 | 1989-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |