TREATMENT OF CHALCOPYRITE COPPER CONCENTRATE USING THE CYMET PROCESSES.

The cymet processes for treating chalcopyrite copper concentrates are hydrometallurgical processes which utilize strong oxidizing lixiviants to convert sulfide sulfur to elemental sulfur; concurrently, the iron and copper in the chalcopyrite are put into solution. Electricity is used to separate the soluble copper and iron selectively into high-purity elemental forms. During the purification steps for electrolytic deposition of the copper and iron, the minor and trace elements are removed and precipitated in forms that can be further treated for recovery in high-purity products. The elemental sulfur may be recovered from the leached residues as ″bright-yellow″ sulfur of high-purity or it may be discarded with the inerts of the Cymet processes. The sulfur in its elemental form is relatively inert and does not pollute the air or the water. Some test results are given.