Production of copper and sulfur from copper-iron sulfides

Details Production of copper and sulfur from copper-iron sulfides Production of copper and sulfur from copper-iron sulfides

1973-10-19

1976-06-22

Carter, Herbert T.

Specialized metallurgical processes, compositions for use therei

Processes

Free metal or alloy reductant contains magnesium

75 6, 75109, 75117, 75118R, 204108, 423 22, 423 27, 423 36, 423 37, 423 47, 423 55, 423 87, 423 95, 423 98, 423101, 423109, 423140, 423143, 423145, 423150, 423154, 423508, 423522, 423574R, 423567R, C22B 111, C22B 1512, C22B 6100, C01B 1706

Patent

active

039649016

ABSTRACT:
A hydrometallurgical process for treating iron containing metal sulfides for rendering iron and non-ferrous metal values active and amenable for selective extraction and separate recovery. Sulfur values can be controllably produced as elemental sulfur or as sulfuric acid to supply acid requirements of the process, while substantially obviating the discharge of sulfur-containing gases to the atmosphere. Ores and concentrates of the sulfides are thermally activated by sequentially heating and reducing said sulfides in a countercurrent flow of heating and reducing gases respectively in a reactor whereby the reaction products of the reducing gas and sulfides, together with liberated labile sulfur, are controllably combusted with oxygen to satisfy heat requirements of the thermal activation process and to convert sulfur values to SO.sub.2 gas. The activated sulfides are subjected to an acid leach in aqueous sulfuric acid for production of ferrous sulfate and evolution of H.sub.2 S gas which are separated from the solid sulfide residue containing concentrated non-ferrous metal values. The ferrous sulfate is oxidized and hydrolysed to precipitate the iron, which is removed from the system, and to regenerate sulfuric acid. At least a portion of the SO.sub.2 gas from said heating step and at least a portion of the H.sub.2 S from the acid leach are converted to sulfuric acid to satisfy the acid requirements of the process, and remaining SO.sub.2 is combined and catalytically reacted with remaining H.sub.2 S to produce elemental sulfur.
The solids residue from the acid leach is subsequently subjected to further treatment for recovery of metal values.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2653905 (1953-09-01), Aanerud
patent: 2805938 (1957-09-01), McGauley
patent: 2878102 (1959-03-01), Sternfels
patent: 3053651 (1962-09-01), McGauley
patent: 3529957 (1970-09-01), Kunda et al.
patent: 3793432 (1974-02-01), Weston
patent: 3803288 (1974-04-01), Kudryk et al.

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