Patent ID: 6599414
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
In a solvent extraction process for the recovery of copper from an aqueous feedstock containing copper and iron values wherein the aqueous feedstock is contacted with an organic phase comprising a reagent composition including an extractant and in which a copper loaded organic phase is provided by extraction of said copper values from said aqueous feedstock and wherein contact between the aqueous feedstock and the organic phase is accomplished by means of at least one mixer-settler extraction stage and at least one strip stage to provide a pregnant copper electrolyte from which the copper is electrowon in an electrowinning stage to provide cathode copper and a stripped electrolyte, the improvement comprising washing said copper loaded organic phase in a wash stage prior to stripping said copper values therefrom with an aqueous acidic wash solution that has been contacted with copper metal prior to washing the copper loaded organic phase.