PROCESS FOR SEPARATING METAL VALUES FROM COMPLEX ORES

摘要

1367945 Copper, nickel valve separation KENNECOTT COPPER CORP 16 Nov 1971 [16 Nov 1970] 53224/71 Heading C1A Copper and nickel valves are sperated from deep sea manganese nodules by charging the nodules and an aqueous leach solution containing NH3 and an ammonium salt and/or NaCl to a pressure vessel, heating (e.g. to 100-300‹ C.) the resulting suspension to reduce the tetravalent manganese present and separating off the leach solution containing Cu and Ni values (Co and Mo values may also be present). The aqueous leach solution may contain 50-200 g/l NH3, 1-6 moles/l ammonium salt (e.g. the chloride, carbonate or sulphate) and/or 3-20 wt. per cent NaCl (e.g. sea water). The pressure vessel may be purged with an inert gas or a reducing gas (in which case the manganese may be reduced to the divalent carbonate), e.g. Co, H2, water gas, producer gas, synthesis gas, CO/CO2 and N2/CO mixture, prior to heating. The examples illustrate various particle sizes to which the nodules are ground, compositions of leach solution, temperatures and purging gases for the pressure vessel.