Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A process for recovering zinc from a zinc bearing ore or concentrate in an electrolytic cell, the cell including a cathode compartment containing a cathode, and an anode compartment containing an anode, the cathode and anode compartments defined by interposing an ion selective membrane therebetween, the membrane being capable of preventing migration of heavy metal ions which may interfere with the plating of zinc from the anode compartment to the cathode compartment, the process including forming in the anode compartment a slurry of the ore or concentrate with a solution containing chloride ions and copper ions, intimately mixing oxygen bearing gas with the slurry, maintaining the mixture substantially at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature up to the boiling point of the solution, and maintaining the pH of the mixture from 1 to 4 applying electrolysis current to the cell whereby the resultant solution is rich in solubilized zinc, withdrawing at least a portion of the mixture and separating the resultant solution therefrom, contacting the resultant solution with zinc bearing ore or concentrate whereby copper is precipitated therefrom, introducing the resultant solution to the cathode compartment and electrochemically recovering zinc at the cathode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A process for recovering zinc from a zinc bearing ore or concentrate in an electrolytic cell, the cell including a cathode compartment containing a cathode, and an anode compartment containing an anode, the cathode and anode compartments defined by interposing an ion selective membrane therebetween, the membrane being capable of preventing migration of heavy metal ions which may interfere with the plating of zinc from the anode compartment to the cathode compartment, the process including forming in the anode compartment a slurry of the ore or concentrate with a solution containing chloride ions and copper ions, intimately mixing oxygen bearing gas with the slurry, maintaining the mixture substantially at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature up to the boiling point of the solution, and maintaining the pH of the mixture from 1 to 4 applying electrolysis current to the cell whereby the resultant solution is rich in solubilized zinc, withdrawing at least a portion of the mixture and separating the resultant solution therefrom, contacting the resultant solution with zinc bearing ore or concentrate whereby copper is precipitated therefrom, introducing the resultant solution to the cathode compartment and electrochemically recovering zinc at the cathode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 comprising the additional step of introducing to the slurry the zinc bearing ore or concentrate and copper precipitate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the mixture is from 2.5 to 3.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the solution is from 50° C. up to the boiling point of the solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the solution is from 70° C. to 100° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the solution is from 85° C. to 95° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the solution contains about 5 to 25 grams per liter of ionic copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein substantially all the ionic copper present in the resultant solution is precipitated by contact with the zinc bearing ore or concentrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 8 wherein the zinc bearing ore is a zinc sulphide ore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 9 wherein the zinc sulphide ore additionally contains copper sulphides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the chloride ions are added in the form of sodium chloride at concentrations of 200 to 300 grams per liter.