Recovering copper from a copper-bearing source

Abstract

A system and process are provided for recovering copper from a contaminated copper-bearing source such as copper smelter flue dust. The copper-bearing source is leached in an acidic solution to produce a liquor containing dissolved copper and dissolved contaminants. Simple copper sulfides are precipitated from the liquor by reacting the liquor with chalcopyrite and sulfur dioxide. Copper is recovered from the precipitated sulfides. A novel process is provided for precipitating simple copper sulfides from a solution containing both dissolved copper and dissolved contaminants. The solution is combined with precipitation product such that substantially all ferric iron contained in the solution is reduced to ferrous iron. The ferric-free solution is reacted with chalcopyrite solids and sulfur dioxide to precipitate the dissolved copper as simple copper sulfides.