Outotec Oyj

Outokumpu Oyj

Outotec (finland) Oy

Leif Rosenback

Stig-Erik Hultholm

Mika Haapalainen

The invention relates to a method whereby copper is recovered from a copper sulphide ore containing pyrite. According to the method the ore is ground and leached into a solution containing sulfuric acid in atmospheric conditions by means of trivalent copper. As the copper sulphide leaches out, the trivalent iron is reduced to divalent and is oxidized back to trivalent by means of oxygen during leaching. Leaching is carried out in a closed reactor, where the undissolved gas rising from the solution in the supper section of the reactor is circulated back into the suspension of solution, solids and gas. leaching is performed in the presence of both divalent and trivalent iron and preferably with the dissolved copper acting as a catalyst to promote leaching. The conditions are adjusted to be such that the pyrite of the ore essentially does not dissolve.

Method for recovering copper from a copper sulphide ore

Invention relates to a method for the removal of sulfur from the leaching cycle of nickel processes such as leaching of nickel matte. According to the method, anolyte generated in nickel electrowinning is neutralized with the aid of a calcium-based neutralizing agents, wherein sulfur is removed from the leaching cycle as gypsum.

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Espoo, Finland

Leif Rosenback