Abstract
From the outset of operations, RTC disliked the loss of sulphur values resulting from heap roasting; additionally the problems associated with large scale roasting were recognised. Heinrich Doetsch, of Sundheim and Doetsch, had been appointed a dirctor of RTC in 1873 and was especially concerned about this problem. Also in 1873, M.Joly had patented a process for extracting copper from pyrites using a solution of ferric chloride. By slightly modifying Joly’s process, Doetsch obtained a separate patent and the Board agreed in May 1879 to use “his” new wet process - this process eventually became known as the First Doetsch Process; by 1882 Doetsch was receiving royalties from its use.
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© 1987 The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy
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Salkield, L.U. (1987). Hydrometallurgical development. In: Cahalan, M.J. (eds) A technical history of the Rio Tinto mines: some notes on exploitation from pre-Phoenician times to the 1950s. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3377-4_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3377-4_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8017-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3377-4
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