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Abstract

A basic copper salt selected from basic copper carbonate, basic copper sulfate, basic copper acetate, basic copper citrate, and basic copper nitrate is manufactured by contacting copper metal with an aqueous solution having ammonia; an acid selected from carbonic acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, nitric acid, or citric acid; and oxygen, under conditions where the copper metal is converted to the basic copper salt; and then recovering the basic copper salt. The most economical embodiment is where the ammonia is present in the aqueous solution is in an amount between about 6.7 g/l and about 15 g/l calculated as NH.sub.3, and the pH of the composition is between 8 and 10, and the temperature of the composition is between 25.degree. C. and 100.degree. C. The method is particularly useful if the basic copper salt is basic copper carbonate. The basic copper carbonate produced has the formula: (CuCO.sub.3).sub.x(Cu(OH.sub.2).sub.y, where y is 1 and x is between 0.1 to less than 1; or where y is 1 and x is 1, or where y is 1 and x is between 0.5 to less than about 0.95, or where y is 1 and x greater than 1.

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First Claim