Treatment of Sulphide Ores for the Separation of Zinc from the Lead and other Metals.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1896
Complete Specification Last
1007
LOLL
1002
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Treatment of Sulphide Ores for the Separation of Zinc from the
Lead and other Metals.
I, BERNARD MOHR, of No. 694 Parliament Hill, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Chemist and Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of ores, containing the sulphides of lead
and zinc and of other metals, with acid sulphate of sodium (NaHSO) in such
manner that the zinc contained in these ores is converted into soluble sulphate of
zinc from which metallic zinc can be electrolytically deposited, and the acid sodium
sulphate can be recovered.
For this purpose, the pulverised ore and acid sodium sulphate, about 10 to
15 cwt. per ton of ore, are fused together; the mass is then dissolved in hot water,
to which, if necessary, a small quantity of sulphuric acid is added.
By a systematic lixiviation, a concentrated solution of sodium sulphate is
obtained containing more or less acid sodium sulphate and zinc sulphate.
This solution is subjected to electrolysis, until all or most of the zinc is
deposited as metal, and the sulphuric acid, with which it was combined, is
set free.
The liquid is then concentrated until it is of the strength necessary for being
fused with a fresh batch of the sulphide ores, sufficient sulphuric acid being added
to make up for loss.
The insoluble residue of the solution in hot water, which consists of the sulphides
of lead and of the other metals in the ore is refined and desilverized according to
well known methods or otherwise utilized.
Instead of acid sodium sulphate, acid potassium sulphate may be employed in
the same way.
Dated this 15th day of June 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Treatment of Sulphide Ores for the Separation of Zinc from the
Lead and other Metals.
I, BERNARD MOHR, of No. 69 Parliament Hill, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Chemist and Metallurgist, 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 treatment of ores, containing the sulphides of lead
and zinc and of other metals with acid sulphate of sodium (NaHSO) in such
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page_text: manner that the zinc contained in these ores is converted into soluble sulphate of
zine from which metallic zinc can be electrolytically deposited and the acid sodium
sulphate can be recovered.
For this purpose, the pulverised ore and acid sodium sulphate about 10 to
15 cwt. per ton of ore, are fused together; the mass is then dissolved in hot water
to which, if necessary, a small quantity of sulphuric acid is added.
By a systematic lixiviation besides insoluble residue, a concentrated solution of
sodium sulphate is obtained containing more or less acid sodium sulphate and zinc
:sulphate.
This solution is subjected to electrolysis until all or most of the zinc is
deposited as metal, and the sulphuric acid, with which it was combined, is
set free.
The liquid is then concentrated until it is of the strength necessary for being
fused with a fresh batch of the sulphide ores, sufficient sulphuric acid being added
to make up for loss.
The insoluble residue of the solution in hot water, which consists of the sulphides
of lead and of the other metals in the ore is refined and desilverised according to
well-known methods or otherwise utilized.
When the ore to be treated contains iron, it should first be calcined at a
temperature of 400° to 500° C. whereby the iron is brought into the form of an
oxide which is insoluble in a solution of acid sodium sulphate. Then, instead of
fusing the ore with the acid sodium sulphate, it is treated with a hot solution of
the acid sodium sulphate, and thus there is obtained a solution of zinc sulphate and
a mixture of neutral and acid sodium sulphate free from iron. Any silver present
in the solution may be precipitated by known means and the zinc is then
electrolytically deposited as above described setting free sulphuric acid which
forms with the sodium sulphate, fresh acid sodium sulphate applicable to the
treatment of succeeding batches of ore. The insoluble residue from the treatment
with the acid sodium sulphate containing lead, iron and other metals, can be treated
in any known way for refining and separating the metals.
Instead of acid sodium sulphate, acid potassium sulphate may be employed in
the same way.
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 :-
The herein described process for treating sulphide ore by acting on the pulverised
ore with acid sodium or potassium sulphate so as to obtain a solution of sulphate of
zinc depositing the zinc by electrolysis and thus recovering the acid alkali sulphate,
and treating the insoluble residue obtained by the lixiviation for recovery of the
other metals.
Dated this Sixteenth d f 100
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.