GB345351A - Process for obtaining metals from sulphide ores - Google Patents

Abstract

In obtaining metals from sulphide ores, the ore is heated in the presence of hydrocarbon material with exclusion or air and the residue is concentrated on percussion tables, by gravitational or magnetic treatment, or by leaching. The ores, preferably finely granulated, are treated at a temperature of about 500 DEG C., i.e. slightly above normal low temperature distillation, but the temperature may be raised to above 600 DEG C. and kept below the normal reduction temperature to liberate wholly or mainly the metals from the compounds in the ore. The heating may be carried out in the presence of a catalyst such as sulphate of iron, gypsum or h matite, with or without lime. Gaseous hydrocarbons, such as acetylene, water-gas, coal-gas, and mineral or other oils may be used in place of coal as the reducing agent. The gas recovered during the heat treatment is utilized to heat the furnace. The concentrates may be further treated in the anodic chambers of an electrolytic bath. Containers for the concentrate to be treated are formed by dividing the bath by porous plates and suspending the cathodes in the containers. Electrolytic copper may be obtained directly from the concentrate. If metal first obtained is impure, the various metals may be separated in succession by electrolysis. In an example, 100 parts of copper pyrites reduced to grains of about 1 mm. mixed with 10 parts by weight of coal and 1 part by weight of sulphate of iron, and distilled at 600 DEG -700 DEG C., yields after concentration grains of metallic iron and large granules of copper.