Freeport-mcmoran Corporation

Susan R Brewer

Wayne Werneke Hazen

David R Baughman

Joanna M Robertson

John O Marsden

Philip Thompson

Robert E Brewer

Christel M A Bemelmans

A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent/solution extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution in multiple electrowinning stages, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent/solution extraction prior to electrowinning.

Process for multiple stage direct electrowinning of copper

The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper and/or other metal values from a metal-bearing ore, concentrate, or other metal-bearing material using pressure leaching and direct electrowinning. More particularly, the present invention relates to a substantially acid-autogenous process for recovering copper from chalcopyrite-containing ore using pressure leaching and direct electrowinning in combination with a leaching, solvent/solution extraction and electrowinning operation.

Process for recovery of copper from copper-bearing material using pressure leaching, direct electrowinning and solvent/solution extraction

Growing community of inventors

Park City, UT, United States of America

Susan R Brewer