Experiments on the hydrometallurgical treatment of copper slimes

✍ Scribed by Schoeller, W. R.

• Book ID: 102320721
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1913
• Weight: 259 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0368-4075
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5000321301

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Many attempts have been made to find offective methods of dealing with slimes, the formation of which is one of the problems of oro dressing. Whilst in te United States, I undertook laboratory experiments on the recovery of copper from slimee by a hydrometallurgical process, Chiefly with a view to working them up at the same rate as they are produced at the concentrating plant. The material experimented upon was obtained from the dressing plant of one of the large western smeiters, and contained: Total copper, 2.85 per cent,; soluble copper, 0.32 per cent.; sulphide copper(by difference) 2.53 per cent. Atmospheric oxidation had practically no effect, the quantity of soluble copper being unchanged after 3 months. The rate of solution in water was found to be 0.10 per cent. per 3 months, some what less than at Rio Tinto. The behaviour of the material was tested towards solutions of ferric sulphate and cupric chloride, the solvents proposed in the Siemens und Halsko and the Hoepfner processes.