Process for the recovery of copper and cobalt from a material sample

摘要

The invention provides a process for recovering copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) from a copper–cobalt containing material sample, and which is adapted for treating both low and high grades of copper–cobalt source material, such as Cu-Co slag, Cu-Co low grade ores, Cu-Co high grade ores / concentrates, Cu-Co tailings and Cu ores. The process is characterised therein that recovery is achieved through electro-cementation. It comprises the steps of (i) leaching the material sample in an acidic pH; (ii) separating waste material solids through solid/liquid separation to recover a solution containing copper, cobalt and iron (Fe); (iii) recovering copper from solution through electro-cementation such that copper is electro-cemented onto a mild steel plate anode and cathode, leaving a solution containing cobalt and iron; (iv) recovering iron from the solution through precipitation as iron oxide; and (v) recovering cobalt from the solution through precipitation.