Patent ID: 7736487
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: C22B,C25C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of recovering copper from a copper-bearing material, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a feed stream comprising a copper-bearing material; (b) subjecting at least a portion of said feed stream to controlled fine grinding; (c) pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed stream in an oxidizing environment at an elevated temperature and pressure to yield a product slurry comprising a copper-bearing solution and a residue; (d) conditioning said product slurry without the use of solvent/solution extraction techniques to yield a copper-bearing solution suitable for electrowinning; (e) electrowinning copper from said copper-bearing solution from said conditioning step to yield cathode copper and a copper-bearing lean electrolyte stream; (f) recycling a portion of said lean electrolyte stream to said pressure leaching step; (g) treating at least a portion of said lean electrolyte stream from said electrowinning step using solvent/solution extraction techniques; and (h) directing at least a portion of a residue from said pressure leaching step to a heap, stockpile or other leaching operation.