Patent ID: 6663689
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for recovering copper from a copper-containing material, comprising the steps of:providing a feed stream comprising a copper-containing material and acid; separating at least a portion of said copper-containing material from said acid in said feed stream to yield an acid stream comprising at least a portion of contaminants and other impurities present in said feed stream and a pressure leaching feed stream comprising a copper-bearing material; subjecting at least a portion of said pressure leaching feed stream to pressuring leaching to yield a product slurry comprising a copper-containing solution and a residue; conditioning said product slurry without the use of solvent extraction techniques to yield a copper-containing solution suitable for electrowinning; electrowinning copper from at least a portion of said copper-containing solution to yield cathode copper and a copper-containing lean electrolyte stream.