Patent ID: 7491372
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process to prepare a colloidal mass containing soluble copper salts, said copper salts obtained from the reaction of dry copper concentrate in a solution, to be washed in order to recover the copper in said solution, said dry copper concentrate comprising at least one mineralogical species containing iron, said process employing intermediate solutions, said intermediate solutions being any solution which is recirculated within said process for washing or diluting the copper concentrate, said process comprising the steps of: simultaneously mixing the copper concentrate with water, sodium chloride, and a solution of calcium chloride in water, by a mixing equipment, to form a homogeneous suspension, said copper concentrate including iron in the form of soluble iron having a concentration of 17%, wherein the sodium contained in said water, said sodium chloride and said solution of calcium chloride comprises a total amount of sodium; once the homogeneous suspension is formed, adding a liquid containing sulfate ions to said suspension in a continuous flow and at a speed preventing splashing, without stopping the stirring; wherein the proportions of: total water, said total water including the water added, plus water contained in said calcium chloride, plus water contained in said copper concentrate as wetness; total chorine, said total chlorine including the chlorine contained in said water, plus the chlorine contained in said calcium chloride solution, plus the chlorine contained in said sodium chloride, and the liquid containing sulfate ions added and being contained in a polygon of the ternary H wherein the total amount of sodium to be added, said total sodium including the sodium as contained in said water which is mixed with said copper concentrate, plus the sodium contained in said sodium chloride, plus the sodium contained in said calcium chloride solution, is at least equal to the 17% of said iron as contained in the copper concentrate in the form of soluble iron, plus the iron contained in the mineralogical species; said process further comprising the steps of: