Method for recovering copper from copper-containing materials using direct electrowinning

Abstract

A method for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent extraction techniques or apparatus. A method for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 737,420, which was filed on Dec. 15, 2003 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,972,107 on Dec. 6, 2005, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 238,399, which was filed on Sep. 9, 2002 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,689 on Dec. 16, 2003, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 912,921, which was filed on Jul. 25, 2001 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,089 on Sep. 17, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, and more specifically, to a process for producing cathode copper without the use of solvent / solution extraction, ion exchange of copper, or related processes to refine and concentrate the copper...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a process for recovering copper and other metal values from copper-containing materials without first subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction. This process involves obtaining a copper-containing solution from a pressure leaching system and then conditioning the solution through chemical or physical steps before electrowinning copper directly from the solution. This process allows for lower-cost recovery of copper and eliminates the expenses associated with solvent extraction. Additionally, careful control of the composition of the copper-containing solution entering the electrowinning circuit enables production of high quality, uniformly-plated cathode copper.

Problems solved by technology

However, the copper recovered by such so-called direct electrowinning processes often is too impure for sale or use as is, and thus, generally must be further refined at an additional cost, or may be sold at a discount.

More specifically, prior art techniques have shown the ability for direct electrowinning of copper to produce a relatively low-quality copper product.

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