Patent ID: 7776306

Claim:
A continuous method of preparing basic copper carbonate comprising: (a) providing an aqueous solution of copper (II), the aqueous solution comprising copper (II), an amine, carbonic acid, and water in a reaction vessel; (b) adjusting the pH of the solution until basic copper carbonate is formed; (c) recovering the basic copper carbonate from the aqueous solution by subjecting the aqueous solution to filtration; (d) transferring the aqueous solution which remains after the recovery of basic copper carbonate in step (c) into a second vessel; (e) removing carbon dioxide from the aqueous solution which remains after the recovery of basic copper carbonate in step (c); (f) introducing a copper metal-containing material into the aqueous solution which remains after the removal of carbon dioxide in step (e); (g) oxidizing the copper metal-containing material to provide a replenished copper (II) solution; and (h) introducing the replenished copper (II) solution into the reaction vessel.