METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF BY-PRODUCTS DURING COPPER SMELTING AND REFINING, PROCESS FOR TREATING A COPPER ORE OR CONCENTRATE AND PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF COPPER ORE AND CONCENTRATE IMPURITIES

摘要

The invention relates to a process for the treatment or removal of impurities, such as arsenic, antimony or bismuth, generated as by-products during smelting and refining of copper concentrates, comprises subjecting the by-products to pressure oxidation along with the copper concentrate in a hydrometallurgical copper extraction process or the treatment of impurities when present in a concentrate by subjecting the concentrate to a hydrometallurgical extraction process. A similar process is used for treating a copper ore or concentrate also containing fluoride.