Thermochemical process for recovering Cu from CuO or CuO2

Patent · Mon Mar 30 23:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6299820

Bamberger, C E; Richardson, D M

A process for producing hydrogen comprises the step of reacting metallic Cu with Ba(OH)/sub 2/ in the presence of steam to produce hydrogen and BaCu/sub 2/O/sub 2/. The BaCu/sub 2/O/sub 2/ is reacted with H/sub 2/O to form Cu/sub 2/O and a Ba(OH)/sub 2/ product for recycle to the initial reaction step. Cu can be obtained from the Cu/sub 2/O product by several methods. In one embodiment the Cu/sub 2/O is reacted with hf solution to provide CuF/sub 2/ and Cu. The CuF/sub 2/ is reacted with H/sub 2/O to provide CuO and hf. CuO is decomposed to Cu/sub 2/O and 0/sub 2/. The hf, Cu and Cu/sub 2/O are recycled. In another embodiment the Cu/sub 2/O is reacted with aqueous H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ solution to provide CuSO/sub 4/ solution and Cu. The CuSO/sub 4/ is decomposed to CuO and SO/sub 3/. The CuO is decomposed to form Cu/sub 2/O and O/sub 2/. The SO/sub 3/ is dissolved to form H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, Cu and Cu/sub 2/O are recycled. In another embodiment Cu/sub 2/O is decomposed electrolytically to Cu and O/sub 2/. In another aspect of the invention, Cu is recovered from CuO by the steps of decomposing CuO to Cu/sub 2/O and O/sub 2/, reacting the Cu/sub 2/O with aqueous hf solution to produce Cu and CuF/sub 2/, reacting the CuF/sub 2/ with H/sub 2/O to form CuO and hf, and recycling the CuO and hf to previous reaction steps.

• Assignee: Department of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4259108
• OSTI ID: 6299820
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080102* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Thermochemical Processes
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BARIUM HYDROXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXIDES
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
STEAM
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS