Improvements relating to the Extraction of Silver.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Extraction of Silver.
I, Dr. CARL HOEPFNER 36 Frankfurterstrasse, Giessen, in the Empire of
Germany, Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the production of silver from copper mattes containing
the same.
From the said copper mattes, containing silver preferably in the form of sulphide,
the silver is extracted in a stirring vessel by means of a liquid containing cuprous
chloride. This liquid in most cases ought to be neutral, practically free from iron,
and preferably kept in a warm state.
The silver is extracted and dissolved.
Cu,Cl, Ag,S = CuS + Ag, Cl.
This solution is commonly separated from the ore and the silver is precipitated
by means of electricity or by any other suitable precipitant, for instance, by metallic
copper, lead, arsenic, antimony or the like, or by their sulphides as CuS, As,S.
The copper contained in the ore may afterwards be extracted by melting or
leaching.
The solution after being freed from the silver may be used over and over again
for the extraction of that precious metal.
It is understood that other suitable ores or mattes containing silver preferably in
the form of sulphide, in a raw roasted or smelted state, may be extracted in this
way.
In sonie cases this method may be combined with amalgamation.
Dated this 27th day of January 1892.
This solution is commonly separated from the ore and the silver is precipitated
by means of electricity or by any other suitable precipitant, for instance, by metallic
copper, lead, arsenic, antimony or the like, or by their sulphides as CuS, As,S.
The copper contained in the ore may afterwards be extracted by melting or
leaching.
The solution after being freed from the silver may be used over and over again
for the extraction of that precious metal.
It is understood that other suitable ores or mattes containing silver preferably in
the form of sulphide, in a raw roasted or smelted state, may be extracted in this
In some cases this method may be combined with amalgamation.
way.
Dated this 27th day of January 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Extraction of Silver.
I, Dr. CARL HOEPFNER, of 36 Frankfurterstrasse, Giessen, in the Empire of
Germany, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to the production of silver from copper mattes containing
the same.
From the said copper-mattes containing silver preferably in the form of sulphide
the silver is extracted in a stirring vessel by means of a liquid containing cuprous
chloride. This liquid should in most cases be neutral, practically free from iron,
and preferably kept in a warm state.
If such liquid contains iron, the latter may be eliminated by introducing air or
oxygen gas into the same or by adding thereto suitable precipitants such as cupric
oxide, cuprous oxide or carbonates of copper or the like.
The silver is extracted and dissolved.

page_text: copper, lead, arsenic, antimony or the like or by their sulphides as CuS, As,S etc.
The copper contained in the ore may afterwards be extracted by smelting or
leaching.
The solution after being freed from the silver may be used over and over again
for the extraction of that precious metal.
It is understood that other suitable ores, mattes or residues containing silver
preferably in the form of sulphide, in a raw roasted or smelted state, may be
extracted or worked in this way.
In some cases this method may be combined with amalgamation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. The extraction of silver from argentiferous copper mattes or working the
latter by lixiviating such material with cuprous chloride solution, from which
solution silver will be precipitated in a suitable or known manner and the resulting
liquid may be employed again for lixiviation of silver.
2. In the extraction of silver from argentiferous copper mattes or in working
the latter according to Claim 1 the employment of cuprous chloride solution,
generally neutral and, as far as possible, free from iron and heated, if desired.
3. In the extraction of silver from argentiferous copper mattes or in working the
latter according to Claim 1 or 2 the process consisting in precipitating the silver
from the lyes obtained according to Claim 1 or 2 being separated from the lixiviated
material by means of electricity or by any other suitable precipitant, such as
metallic copper lead, arsenic, antimony or the like, or by their sulphides as
sulphide of copper or of arsenic or the like.
4. In the extraction of silver from argentiferous copper mattes or in working the
latter according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 the elimination of iron from the lyes thereby
obtained by the action of air, oxygen, cupric oxide, cuprous oxide or carbonates
of copper or the like.
5. In the extraction of silver from argentiferous copper mattes or in working the
latter according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 the process of extracting copper from the
residues obtained in the processes above described and containing sulphides of
copper by smelting or lixiviating such residues.
6. The extraction of silver from argentiferous ores, residues or mattes in a
raw or smelted state or working such materials by the process according to
Claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
Dated Gins on day of October 1994.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.