Abstract: Copper is processed via solutions of copper salts, both cupric and cuprous, in acidified aqueous solutions containing organic nitriles. Methods of producting solutions of cuprous salts include reduction of cupric salts and oxidation of copper and copper sulphides. Solutions of cuprous salts are thermally or electrochemically disproportionated to produce copper and solutions of cupric salts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 1976
Date of Patent:
September 12, 1978
Assignee:
Anumin Pty. Limited
Inventors:
Alan James Parker, Winfield Earle Waghorne, Dion Ewing Giles, John Howard Sharp, Robert Alexander, David Michael Muir
Abstract: Methods of reducing aqueous solutions of cupric sulfate to cuprous solutions by using organic nitrile compositions are disclosed. The particular nitrile used is acetonitrile and the reductant is sulphur dioxide. The method has application commercially to leaching ores containing oxidised copper to obtain cuprous ion solutions. Such solutions can be treated by electrochemical or thermal disproportionation methods to obtain very pure copper.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 1974
Date of Patent:
June 29, 1976
Assignee:
Anumin Pty. Limited
Inventors:
Alan James Parker, Winfield Earle Waghorne, Dion Ewing Giles, John Howard Sharp, Robert Alexander, David Michael Muir
Abstract: Method of preparing cuprous sulfate and bisulfate solutions from materials containing copper and impurities by a leaching process are disclosed. The leaching composition contains sulfuric acid, cupric ions, water and an organic nitrile. The leaching composition may be used with copper sulfide ores in particulate form. The cuprous solutions resulting from the leaching can be treated by disproportionation methods to recover pure copper.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 1974
Date of Patent:
June 1, 1976
Assignee:
Anumin Pty. Limited
Inventors:
Alan James Parker, Winfield Earle Waghorne, Dion Ewing Giles, John Howard Sharp, Robert Alexander, David Michael Muir
Abstract: Copper is processed via solutions of copper salts, both cupric and cuprous, in acidified aqueous solutions containing organic nitriles. Methods of producting solutions of cuprous salts include reduction of cupric salts and oxidation of copper and copper sulphides. Solutions of cuprous salts are thermally or electrochemically disproportionated to produce copper and solutions of cupric salts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 1974
Date of Patent:
February 10, 1976
Assignee:
Anumin Pty. Limited
Inventors:
Alan James Parker, Winfield Earle Waghorne, Dion Ewing Giles, John Howard Sharp, Robert Alexander, David Michael Muir