METHOD FOR RECOVERING VALUABLE ELEMENT FROM CRUDE COPPER

PURPOSE:To recover efficiently valuable elements from crude copper by removing the elements contained as impurities from the crude copper by slag refining, dissolving formed slag in water, and separating the valuable elements from the undissolved matter. CONSTITUTION:Crude copper obtd. by the oxidation refining of copper matte or the like is refined with an alkaline earth metallic chloride or the like to remove As, Sb and Bi as valuable elements contained as impurities. Formed slag contg. As, Sb and Bi is dissolved in water, and metallic Cu or Cu compounds and compounds of the valuable metals are separated from the undissolved matter by making use of difference in specific gravity. The concd. part contg. As, Sb and Bi is subjected to concn. and separation in the following stages to recover separately the valuable elements. By this method, the impurity elements are removed from the crude copper, and the elements are efficiently recovered.