Methods of separating and recovering copper from materials containing copper

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Cuprous sulphate solutions suitable for thermal or, electochemical disproportionation to yield copper are, obtained by dissolving copper sulphites such as Chevreul's, salt or cuprous ammonium sulphite in acetonitrile-water, or 2 hydroxycyanoethane-water mixtures preferably in, the presence of cupric sulphate. This discovery is capable of a number of applications, one of which is the recovery of copper from chalcopyrite by the following five steps. An oxidising roast of chalcopyrite such as to produce either cupric sulphate and/or copper oxide leaching of, cupric sulphate from the calcine precipitation of Chevreul's, salt and/or other copper sulphites with a soluble salt of sulphurous acid, …