IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING COPPER FROM CUPREOUS SOLUTIONS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Astley Paston Price of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING COPPER FROM CUPREOUS SOLUTIONS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Astley Paston Price at the
"
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November 1883.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman, " IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING COPPER FROM CUPREOUS SOLUTIONS
This Invention relates to the separation and to the obtaining of copper when
existing in solution either in natural or in artificial products such for example as
in what are known as Copper Waters or mine waters in which copper is contained
in a soluble form, and also when it is contained in artificial or manufactured
products such for example as in the solutions resulting from and obtained in the
extraction or separation of copper from ores, metallurgical products or alloys, and
consists in effecting the precipitation of the copper from its solution by the
employment of Zinc and by preference when in a fine state of division such for
example as that which is known as Zinc Fume or the condensed Vapour of Zinc
In carrying out my Invention I add to the solution or solutions containing
Copper, Zinc by preference in a fine state of division such as Zinc Fume and I
cause the cupreous solution be to intimately mixed with the same, in order that
the copper existing in solution may be precipitated therefrom. This precipitation
may be effected either at the ordinary temperature or at an elevated temperature
The precipitated Copper thus resulting is allowed to subside and is separated from
the solution either by filtration or otherwise and may then be treated by well
known methods for the production of Slab or cake Copper, or otherwise. The
supernatant solution may be again employed for effecting the solution of the
soluble salts or Compounds of Copper and after one or more operations, conducted
as before mentioned, may be treated with Lime or with other base so as to
precipitate the Zinc existing in solution, and the oxide or other compounds of Zinc
thus obtained may be employed for the production of the finely divided Zinc or
Zinc Fume as before mentioned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Astley Paston Price in the Patent Office on the 16th May 1884.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING COPPER FROM CUPREOUS SOLUTIONS
"
This Invention relates to the separation and to the obtaining of copper when
existing in solution either in natural or in artificial products such for example as in
what are known as Copper waters or mine waters in which copper is contained in
a soluble form and also when it is contained in artificial or in manufactured
products such for example as in the solutions resulting from and obtained in the
extraction or separation of copper from ores metallurgical products or alloys and
consists in effecting the precipitation of the Copper from its solution or solutions
by the employment of Zinc when in a state of fine division such for example as
that which is known as Zinc Fume or the condensed vapour of Zinc.
In carrying out my Invention I add to the Solution or Solutions containing
Copper Zinc in a state of fine division such as Zinc Fume which is substantially
Metallic Zinc in a state of fine division and I cause the cupreous solution or
solutions to be intimately mixed with the same either by the injection of Steam or
of Air or by Mechanical Agitation in order that the copper existing in solution
may be precipitated therefrom-This precipitation may be effected either at the
ordinary temperature or at an elevated temperature-The precipitated copper thus
resulting is allowed to subside and is separated from the solution either by filtration
decantation or otherwise and may then be treated by any well known methods for
the production of slab or cake Copper or otherwise-The supernatant solution may
be again employed for effecting the solution of the soluble salts or compounds of
copper and after one or more operations conducted as before mentioned may be
treated with Lime or with other base so as to decompose the compounds of Zinc
existing in solution and the Oxide or other compounds of zinc thus obtained may
be employed for the production of the finely divided zinc or Zinc Fume
When it is desired to effect the precipitation of Copper from an Acid Solution or
from Acid Solutions the same are by preference neutralized or nearly'so in order
to economise the precipitant videlicet the Zinc
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is
Effecting the precipitation of copper from solutions of the same by the employ-
ment of metallic zinc when in a state of fine division substantially in the manner
as herein before mentioned
In witness whereof I the said Astley Paston Price have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four.