Abstract: The invention provides a hydrometallurgical process for recovering lead in essentially pure form from a sulphurized compound containing at least lead as a non-ferrous metal. The process involves treating the sulphurized compound with an aqueous lixiviating solution containing at least one chloride of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and silver, preferably cupric chloride, the quantity of said at least one chloride being less than or equal to that which is stoichiometrically required for the complete dissolution of the lead contained in the sulphurized compound, thereby to obtain a solution containing lead chloride and the chlorides of metals nobler than lead as impurities if originally present in the sulphurized lead compound, and an insoluble residue containing the sulphide of the metal of said at least one chloride, the sulphides of the non-ferrous metals originally present in the sulphurized compound, and free sulphur.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of solutions of lead chloride, containing as impurities at least one metal chosen from the group consisting of silver, copper and bismuth. This process is characterized by the fact that it involves the following steps:(a) bringing the solution into contact with a cation exchange resin whose active group is a sulfhydryl group; and(b) recovery of the lead on the basis of the solution obtained in step (a).

Abstract: The invention provides a process for extracting zinc from a sulphur- and zinc-containing ore which involves (a) leaching the sulphur ore or concentrate with an aqueous solution of cupric chloride, which can be regenerated by means of a regenerating agent and air; (b) subjecting the solution thus obtained to liquid-liquid extraction by means of an organic phase, preferably containing a solvent, comprising an acid organophosphorus compound; and (c) recovering the zinc contained in the said organic phase after the said extraction, preferably by elution. If justified by the composition of the ore, the following optional recovery steps may then be performed:(1) if lead is present, recovery of lead by cementation (i.e., precipitation) or by crystallization of lead dichloride followed by cementation of the crystallizate;(2) if copper is present, recovery of copper by cementation or by liquid-liquid extraction; and(3) if precious metals, e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for selectively solubilizing the non-ferrous metals contained in sulphurized ores and concentrates, with regard to the iron and sulphur therein, by subjecting the ore or concentrate to lixiviation with an aqueous solution of cupric chloride at a temperature above 50.degree. C., preferably at a temperature between 70.degree. C. and 105.degree. C., and then regenerating said aqueous solution in situ at atmospheric pressure by means of air and a regeneration agent selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid and ferrous chloride. The invention also contemplates the preferable inclusion in the aqueous cupric chloride solution of an agent for solubilizing cuprous chloride selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal chloride, an alkaline earth metal chloride, ammonium chloride, and ferrous chloride.

Abstract: A method for the dissolution of non-ferrous metals contained in oxygenated compounds in which the oxygenated compounds are subjected to the action of a ferrous chloride solution and a gas containing oxygen is mixed with the solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining electrolytic copper from copper-bearing ores which involves (a) lixiviating a sulphurized copper concentrate with an aqueous solution containing cupric chloride; (b) separating the solution resulting from the lixiviation stage (a) into two parts, one of said parts, containing at least 1 gram of cuprous ions per liter and at least 2 grams of ferrous ions per liter, being subjected to oxidation by air at atmospheric pressure, at a pH value between 1 and 3, and at a temperature above 90.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for obtaining electrolytic copper and other useful metals from sulphurized concentrates, including in combination, the following stages:A. lixiviating the sulphurized concentrate with an aqueous solution containing cupric chloride formed in situ, at least in part, by oxidation, by introducing hydrochloric acid and air into the cuprous chloride solution resulting from lixiviation;B. partially extracting the copper contained in the lixiviation solution resulting from stage a) by contacting the lixiviation solution with an organic extractant containing a cationic solution, the extraction being accompanied by oxidation by injecting air into the lixiviation solution;C. re-extracting the copper contained in the organic extractant by contacting the organic extractant with an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid and recycling the organic extractant to the extraction stage b); andD.