Micronutrient supplement made from copper metal

1. A method of making a micronutrient supplement from copper metal which method consists of the steps of:

a) providing as reactants:

i) copper metal;

ii) one of hydrochloric acid and/or cupric chloride; and

iii) an oxidizing agent; and

b) conducting a reaction by reacting together reactants i), ii) and iii) according to one of the following chemical equations:

i) 2Cu+HCl+2H 2 O 2 →Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl+H 2 O,

ii) 3Cu+CuCl 2 +1.5O 2 +3H 2 O→2Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl,

and

iii) 2Cu+O 2 +H 2 O+HCl→Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl,

wherein the reaction of step b) produces tribasic copper chloride (Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl) without any byproducts which would preclude use of the tribasic copper chloride as a pharmaceutically acceptable micronutrient supplement that can be added to animal feed mixtures and fed to animals.

2. A method of making a micronutrient supplement according to claim 1 , wherein the copper metal comprises stock copper.

3. A method of making a micronutrient supplement according to claim 1 , wherein the copper metal comprises scrap or waste copper.

4. A method of making a micronutrient supplement according to claim 1 , wherein in step b) the reactants are reacted in accordance with reaction equation ii) or iii) with the copper metal and one of hydrochloric acid and cupric chloride forming a reaction mixture and the oxygen being injected into the reaction mixture.

5. A method of making a micronutrient supplement according to claim 4 , wherein the injection of the oxygen inhibits the copper metal from settling during the reaction.

6. A method of making a micronutrient supplements according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction in step b) is conducted at a temperature of about 180° F.

7. A method of making a micronutrient supplements according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction in step b) is conducted while stirring the reactants.

8. A method of making a micronutrient supplements according to claim 1 , wherein the formed tribasic copper chloride comprises a slurry.

9. A method of making a micronutrient supplements according to claim 8 , wherein the slurry is spray dried.