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Metals Industry:
High-level copper directly from the mine
As a result of a method developed by Outokumpu Technology
Oy, copper can be produced from a concentrate at the mine
site, making the copper refinement more efficient, reducing
costs and also implementing the principles of sustainable
development in a wide range of ways.
The innovative nature of the HydroCopper® process is
based on refining the copper concentrate by dissolving it
directly into pure metal wire rods using a table salt solution
- without the traditional smelting process. The copper is
ready within a few days. HydroCopper enables even small production
plants to be financially profitable and efficient.
The environment-friendly process does not use or produce
sulphuric acid nor does it contribute to the development of
the greenhouse phenomenon. Locating the plant near the concentrator
produces big savings as transportation and storage costs are
eliminated. The process recovers more valuable metals from
the mine than previously because even difficult and low-content
concentrates can be exploited.
Developing the process started almost twenty years ago. The
innovation has since grown into a product that is well known
throughout the world.
Photo: Outokumpu focuses on steel production and technology,
but its roots lie deep in copper production.
Published 2006
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