APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COPPER EXTRACTION BY IN-SITU ELECTROLYSIS IN HEAP-LEACHING OF ORES

摘要

Copper is extracted from a heap of low-grade ore by transforming the heap intoan electrolytic cell, and imposing a voltage thereon.Anodic conditions of redox and pH cause the sulphide to break down, and thecopper to pass into solution. The copper can be recoveredelsewhere if the electrolyte is drawn off, or in-situ if allowed to plate ontothe cathode. Electrodes are formed as grids of conductors, oras layers of e.g. graphite.