Refining of ferrous and base metal sulphide ores and concentrates

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The invention provides a process for extracting a base metal from a base metal bearing ore or concentrate which includes forming a slurry of the ore or concentrate with an electrolyte containing chloride ions and copper ions oxygenating the mixture and maintaining the pH of the mixture from 1.5 to 7Ø Iron impurities will be substantially precipitated as ferric oxide and may be recovered sulphide, sulphur will be converted to elemental form and can be recovered and the base metal is taken into solution. The base metal can be recovered by electrolysis which can also produce hydrogen ions for pH maintenance. The copper ions can be precipitated by the addition of fresh ore or concentrate and …