The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 08, 1982
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1980
Carl R Di Martini, Piscataway, NJ (US);
William L Scott, Tampa, FL (US);
Leo J Bulvanoski, Fords, NJ (US);
Asarco Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
Antimony values are separated from a material containing a sulfo-antimony compound of copper, e.g. tetrahedrite ore concentrate, by a process involving establishing a pool of molten lead, adding a metallic alkali metal, e.g. metallic sodium, to the molten lead in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the combined antimony of the sulfo-antimony compound or compounds of copper of the tetrahedrite to metallic antimony, adding the tetrahedrite ore concentrate to the molten lead, and mixing together the alkali metal, molten lead, and tetrahedrite ore concentrate. The alkali metal and sulfo-antimony compound of copper are reacted together in the presence of the molten lead for a period which is sufficient to reduce the antimony of the sulfo-antimony compound of copper to metallic antimony and to form one or more sulfo-alkali metal compounds of copper, and a matte phase which separates from the molten lead. The reduced, metallic antimony passes into the molten lead pool, and the sulfo-alkali metal compound or compounds of copper report in the matte phase on the surface of the molten lead pool. The matte phase is separated from the molten lead. The metallic antimony is then recovered from the lead. Alternatively, if lead- and antimony-containing alloy is desired as a product, the antimony is retained in the lead, and additional antimony and/or lead may or may not be incorporated into the alloy, as desired or required, to obtain the desired alloy composition. Should the alloy product be a desired product, the starting lead of the molten pool will ordinarily not be a liquated, rough drossed lead bullion, but instead another lead such as, for example pure lead or antimonial lead. The process herein is a relatively low temperature process employing temperatures of the molten lead pool above the melting point of lead but ordinarily not in excess of 650.degree. C. Further, the instant process does not require a smelting furnace but is ordinarily carried out in a kettle.