Improvements in the Treatment of Copper-nickel Matte and the Obtainment of Products therefrom.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Feb.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Copper-nickel Matte and the
Obtainment of Products therefrom.
We, THE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION LIMITED, of Worcester
House, Walbrook in the City of London, and THOMAS PARKER, Works Director,
and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON, Chemist, both of Wolverhampton in the County
of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to improve and cheapen the treatment of copper-
nickel matte in such a manner as to obtain the metals therefrom without the roasting
process hitherto resorted to. According to our invention we treat the matte
directly with dilute sulphuric acid preferably previously dividing or pulverizing the
matte. By this means the nickel and iron are dissolved but the principal part of
the copper remains undissolved. The residue (consisting of metallic copper and
sulphide of copper) can be melted and cast into pigs and may be used as the anodes
in an electrolyte of sulphate of copper with a copper cathode. The solution
containing the iron and nickel we may treat with a precipitant such as carbonate of
barium to precipitate the iron.
Dated this 2nd dox of Annil 1900
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Copper-nickel Matte and the
Obtainment of Products therefrom.
We, THE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION LIMITED, of Worcester
House, Walbrook in the City of London, and THOMAS PARKER Works Director
and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON, Chemist, both of Wolverhampton in the County
of Stafford, 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 :-
The object of our invention is to improve and cheapen the treatment of copper-
nickel matte in such a manner as to obtain the metals therefrom without the roasting
process hitherto resorted to. According to our invention we treat the matte
directly or in an unroasted state with dilute sulphuric acid preferably previously
dividing or pulverising the matte. The dilute sulphuric acid is preferably (but not
necessarily) used at boiling temperature as the application of heat expedites the
process. Strong sulphuric acid must not be used as it would dissolve the copper
contents of the matte. Dilute sulphuric acid of a specific gravity of from 14 to 1.1
we find suitable for the purposes of this invention. By the means described the
nickel and iron are dissolved but the whole of the copper remains undissolved. The
residue (consisting of metallic copper and sulphide of copper) can be melted and
cast into pigs and may be used as the anodes in an electrolyte of sulphate of copper
with a copper cathode. The solution containing the iron and nickel we may treat
with a precipitant such as carbonate of barium or carbonate of magnesium to
precipitate the iron,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In the treatment of copper-nickel matte the use of dilute sulphuric acid as a
solvent for the nickel and iron as hereinbefore explained.
Dated this 5th day of January 1991
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C., Agents.