A method for production of potassium antimony tartrate by utilizing one or more residues bearing antimony includes the step of leaching of the one or more residues bearing antimony for a first pre-determined time interval in each of one or more jacketed reactors. In addition, the method includes filtering obtained slurry from a leached solution of the one or more residues products bearing antimony to obtain an aqueous solution and a solid residue. The method also includes crystallizing the obtained aqueous solution to form one or more crystals of the potassium antimony tartrate in a jacketed crystallizer. The antimony contained in the one or more residues is in an oxidic form and the oxidic form of the antimony is more than 20%. The solid residue is a leached cake.

A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As.sup.3+ to As.sup.5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As.sup.3+ to As.sup.5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

A hydrometallurgical process for the removal of arsenic and antimony from a so-called dirty copper concentrate (101) is described. The process comprises the following steps: Step 1: repulping (100) the dirty copper concentrate with an alkaline lixiviant (102, 103), and subjecting the dirty copper concentrate to an alkaline leaching process (the Leach) in a Leach reactor (110). The arsenic and antimony are dissolved in the Leach to produce a clean copper concentrate (138) and leach discharge liquor (132). Step 2: subjecting the Leach discharge liquor (132) to a lime treatment step (151) in order to regenerate (150) the alkaline lixiviant as well as precipitate an impurity rich precipitate (161) containing arsenic and antimony. Then the impurity rich precipitate (161) is separated (160) from the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162). The impurity rich precipitate is washed and disposed of in an environmentally safe condition. Step 3: recycling the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162) to the Leach in Step 1, and so employing the recycled alkaline lixiviant (102) in the further extraction of arsenic and antimony from incoming dirty copper concentrate (101).

A hydrometallurgical process for the removal of arsenic and antimony from a so-called dirty copper concentrate (101) is described. The process comprises the following steps: Step 1: repulping (100) the dirty copper concentrate with an alkaline lixiviant (102, 103), and subjecting the dirty copper concentrate to an alkaline leaching process (the Leach) in a Leach reactor (110). The arsenic and antimony are dissolved in the Leach to produce a clean copper concentrate (138) and leach discharge liquor (132). Step 2: subjecting the Leach discharge liquor (132) to a lime treatment step (151) in order to regenerate (150) the alkaline lixiviant as well as precipitate an impurity rich precipitate (161) containing arsenic and antimony. Then the impurity rich precipitate (161) is separated (160) from the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162). The impurity rich precipitate is washed and disposed of in an environmentally safe condition. Step 3: recycling the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162) to the Leach in Step 1, and so employing the recycled alkaline lixiviant (102) in the further extraction of arsenic and antimony from incoming dirty copper concentrate (101).

A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As.sup.3+ to As.sup.5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As.sup.3+ to As.sup.5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

A method is disclosed for extracting metals from concentrated sulphurated minerals containing metals by direct reduction with regeneration and recycling of the reducing agent, iron, and of the flux, sodium carbonate. It is a combination of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes which differ from the conventional processes. They do not require previous toasting of the concentrated sulphurated minerals and are technically and economically more advantageous than the presently used processes, since they directly reduce to zero the positive oxidation state of the metal, using a single reactor for extracting the metal, regenerating and recycling the metallurgical feed materials in complementary processes, the kinetics of the chemical reactions being characterised by high speed, without generating any slags or pollutant gases. The metals can be extracted at a reduced cost and in an environmentally sustainable manner

A method is disclosed for extracting metals from concentrated sulphurated minerals containing metals by direct reduction with regeneration and recycling of the reducing agent, iron, and of the flux, sodium carbonate. It is a combination of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes which differ from the conventional processes. They do not require previous toasting of the concentrated sulphurated minerals and are technically and economically more advantageous than the presently used processes, since they directly reduce to zero the positive oxidation state of the metal, using a single reactor for extracting the metal, regenerating and recycling the metallurgical feed materials in complementary processes, the kinetics of the chemical reactions being characterised by high speed, without generating any slags or pollutant gases. The metals can be extracted at a reduced cost and in an environmentally sustainable manner

The disclosure relates to the oxidation and immobilization of trivalent arsenic from arsenic-containing solutions. The process includes oxidation of trivalent arsenic (As.sup.3+) species to the pentavalent state (As.sup.5+). A carbon additive (e.g., activated carbon) and oxygen are used to promote the arsenic oxidation processes. After oxidation of arsenic to the pentavalent state, the arsenic can be removed by precipitation to ferric arsenate or calcium arsenate or other arsenic containing compounds known in the art. The oxidation of arsenic can also occur simultaneously with the production and precipitation of ferric arsenate (e.g., scorodite). Ferrous iron can be oxidized to ferric iron in the presence of activated carbon and oxygen.