This paper analyzes the distribution of rhenium and osmium throughout a copper concentrate smelting process and identifies the solid and liquid by-products having the highest concentrations of these metals. After some measures were taken to upgrade the equipment and to improve the process, an increase in rhenium recovery as ammonium perrhenate of up to 62.9% was achieved. This paper describes (a) the results of the study of some physical and chemical factors influencing the osmium behavior, (b) the status and chemical conversions in solutions resulting from rhenium extraction from acid scrubbing solution and the formation of complex rhenium salt [Zn(NH_3)_4](ReO_4)_2 and (c) the salt behavior in aqueous ammonia and acid solutions. These results have been used for the development of a process for rhenium and osmium recovery from mother liquors. The paper offers process flowcharts for the processing of rhenium-, osmium-containing lead slurries and dusts resulting in the production of rhenium, lead salts and concentrates enriched with rhenium, osmium, silver by using leaching, solvent extraction and precipitation processes.
展开▼
