GB1349672A - Metal winning process producing metals from ores by electrolysis - Google Patents

Abstract

1349672 Producing metals from ores electrolytically IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd 22 May 1972 [27 May 1971] 17473/71 Heading C7B A metal, e.g. Cu, Ag, Fe, Ni, Pb, Hg or Zn, is produced from its ore having a sulphide or complex oxy anion, e.g. including a hydrated or anhydrous sulphide, carbonate, sulphate or silicate, by contacting the solid ore, preferably crushed to 10 to 200 mesh BSS size, with a cathode and an aqueous electrolyte solution containing an anode and having a pH of at least 7 at least at the start of the electro-chemical reaction. The electrolyte solution may comprise NaOH or Na 2 SO 4 . The cathode may be of Cu, Pt or Hg, and the anode may be a Pt or C rod, plate, or form part of the electrolyte vessel. As shown Fig. 1 the cathode may be a rod 3 surrounded by the ore 2 in a porous cylindrical container 1 e.g. of alumina closed by a lid 4 provided with a vent tube 5 through which blanketing gas e.g. nitrogen may be supplied, or evolved gases escape; or the cathode may be a dish, tray or plate containing the ore; or a hollow rotating drum Fig.3 (not shown) into which the ore is fed. Alternatively Fig. 2 the cathode may be mercury 12, supplied from a reservoir 15, contacting the ore 11 under a porous sintered glass partition 10, above which lies the electrolyte solution 13 containing an anode 14, the whole in cylindrical vessel 9. Ores specified are Cu 2 S, FeS, NiS, HgCl 2 , chalcocite (Cu 2 S containing SiO 2 ), malachite (basic Cu carbonate), chrysocolla (Cu silicate) and basic Zn carbonate.