METHOD OF INCREASING COPPER PRODUCTION

• US 3,868,439 A
• Filed: 02/09/1973
• Issued: 02/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Original Assignee: Milton E. Wadsworth
• Inventors: Wadsworth, Milton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vertiz, Oscar R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Straub, Gary P.
• Application Number:
  US05/331,140
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 299/5 423/27,41,45,557 75/11R,104,117
• US Class Current: 423/41
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 15/0008 by wet processes by flotation B03D
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 15/0071 containing sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 15/0093 by gases, e.g. hydrogen or hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

A method of selectively alternating the oxidation, acid wetting, and leach cycles used on a low grade copper bearing ore or overburden body to thereby enhance the rate of copper recovery therefrom. Control of the pH of the aqueous solution used during the acid wetting phase to a pH value within the range of 1.0 to 2.0 has been found to be unusually significant.

Claims

1. IN A METHOD OF ENHANCING RECOVERY OF COPPER VALUES FROM AN ORE MATERIAL HAVING RELATIVELY LOW COPPER VALUES;

THE METHOD COMPRISING SEQUENTIALLY;

PREPARING THE ORE MATERIAL FOR A SUBSEQUENT LEACHING BY FIRST WETTING THE ORE MATERIAL WITH A FIRST SOLUTION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID HAVING A PH WITHIN THE RANGE ON THE ORDER OF ABOUT 1.0 TO 2.0, THE WETTING STEP COMPRISING APPLYING SUFFICIENT AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID TO THE ORE MATERIAL TO AT LEAST ACIDIFY PELLICULAR WATER IN THE ORE MATERIAL WITHOUT CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE SULFURIC ACID TO PERCOLATE FROM THE ORE MATERIAL;

EXPOSING THE ORE MATERIAL TO THE ATMOSPHERE UNTIL AERATION OCCURS;

AND CONDUCTING A LEACHING STEP FOR EXTRACTING COPPER VALUES FROM THE ORE MATERIAL BY PERCOLATING A SECOND SOLUTION COMPRISING A SOLUTION OF SULFURIC ACID AND IRON IONS THROUGH THE ORE MATERIAL AND COLLECTING THE SECOND SOLUTION FOR PROCESSING TO RECOVER COPPER VALUES THEREFROM.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of wetting the ore material with said sulfuric acid and exposing said ore material to the atmosphere are repeated before said ore material is leached.