Patent ID: 7462272
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: C22B,C25C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of recovering copper from a copper-bearing material, comprising the steps of: providing a feed stream containing copper-containing material and acid; subjecting the feed stream to pressure leaching at a temperature of from about 100° C. about 250° C. to yield a product slurry comprising a copper-bearing solution and a residue; conditioning said product slurry through one or more chemical or physical conditioning steps to yield a copper-containing solution suitable for electrowinning; electrowinning copper from at least a portion of said copper-containing solution in a first electrowinning stage to produce copper cathode and a first stage lean electrolyte stream, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent/solution extraction; electrowinning copper from at least a portion of said first stage lean electrolyte stream in a second electrowinning stage to produce copper cathode and a second stage lean electrolyte stream; and recycling at least a portion of said first stage lean electrolyte stream to said pressure leaching step.