Patents Assigned to Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
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Patent number: 10512884Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of gold from a gold-bearing aqueous filtrate, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting the aqueous filtrate with dibutyl carbitol (DBC) in a two-stage solvent extraction process to remove the gold from the aqueous filtrate into the DBC to form a gold-loaded DBC; and (D) Contacting the gold-loaded DBC with an aqueous acid scrub of hydrochloric acid in a four-stage countercurrent scrub process to remove impurities, e.g., non-gold metal, from the DBC into the aqueous scrub solution to form an impurity-loaded aqueous scrub. Each stage of the solvent extraction circuit and the aqueous acid scrub circuit is equipped with a mixing assembly and a phase separation tank in a head-tail arrangement such that the mixing assembly of one stage is adjacent to the phase separation tank of the adjacent stage.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLCInventors: Shijie Wang, Daniel Kim
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Patent number: 9839885Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of gold from a gold-bearing aqueous filtrate, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting the aqueous filtrate with dibutyl carbitol (DBC) in a two-stage solvent extraction process to remove the gold from the aqueous filtrate into the DBC to form a gold-loaded DBC; and (D) Contacting the gold-loaded DBC with an aqueous acid scrub of hydrochloric acid in a four-stage countercurrent scrub process to remove impurities, e.g., non-gold metal, from the DBC into the aqueous scrub solution to form an impurity-loaded aqueous scrub. Each stage of the solvent extraction circuit and the aqueous acid scrub circuit is equipped with a mixing assembly and a phase separation tank in a head-tail arrangement such that the mixing assembly of one stage is adjacent to the phase separation tank of the adjacent stage.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER LLCInventors: Shijie Wang, Daniel Kim
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Patent number: 9145309Abstract: A phase separation tank for separating an aqueous liquid from an organic liquid, the tank comprising: (A) A separation compartment having a sloped bottom wall and an aqueous liquid outlet; (B) An organic liquid compartment separated from the separation compartment by an organic separator of a height that allows for the overflow of organic liquid from the separation compartment to the organic compartment; (C) An aqueous liquid compartment separated from the organic liquid compartment by an aqueous separator and separated from the separation compartment by the organic compartment, the aqueous liquid compartment equipped with an aqueous liquid inlet; and (D) Means for transferring aqueous liquid from the aqueous liquid outlet of the separation compartment to the aqueous liquid inlet of the aqueous compartment.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLCInventors: Shijie Wang, Daniel Kim, Kenneth Lee Moretensen
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Patent number: 9068245Abstract: A process for the recovery of gold from a gold-bearing aqueous filtrate, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting the aqueous filtrate with dibutyl carbitol (DBC) in a two-stage solvent extraction process to remove the gold from the aqueous filtrate into the DBC to form a gold-loaded DBC; and (D) Contacting the gold-loaded DBC with an aqueous acid scrub of hydrochloric acid in a four-stage countercurrent scrub process to remove impurities, e.g., non-gold metal, from the DBC into the aqueous scrub solution to form an impurity-loaded aqueous scrub. Each stage of the solvent extraction circuit and the aqueous acid scrub circuit is equipped with a mixing assembly and a phase separation tank in a head-tail arrangement such that the mixing assembly of one stage is adjacent to the phase separation tank of the adjacent stage.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLCInventors: Shijie Wang, Daniel Kim
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Patent number: 8753591Abstract: Molybdic oxide is recovered from molybdenite by a multistep process in which (A) the molybdenite is converted to soluble and insoluble molybdic oxide by pressure oxidation, (B) the insoluble molybdic oxide is converted to soluble molybdic oxide by alkaline digestion and then combined with the soluble molybdic oxide, and (C) the molybdenum values of the combined streams are extracted into an organic phase using a nonprimary amine. The extracted molybdenum values are recovered from the organic phase using aqueous ammonia to form ammonium dimolybdate (ADM) which is recovered as refined crystals from a two-step calcination process.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLCInventors: Mike Rockandel, Claus Stoiber, Robert E. Crossman
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Publication number: 20140110334Abstract: A phase separation tank for separating an aqueous liquid from an organic liquid, the tank comprising: (A) A separation compartment having a sloped bottom wall and an aqueous liquid outlet; (B) An organic liquid compartment separated from the separation compartment by an organic separator of a height that allows for the overflow of organic liquid from the separation compartment to the organic compartment; (C) An aqueous liquid compartment separated from the organic liquid compartment by an aqueous separator and separated from the separation compartment by the organic compartment, the aqueous liquid compartment equipped with an aqueous liquid inlet; and (D) Means for transferring aqueous liquid from the aqueous liquid outlet of the separation compartment to the aqueous liquid inlet of the aqueous compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER LLCInventors: Shijie Wang, Daniel Kim, Kenneth Lee Moretensen
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Publication number: 20140109725Abstract: A process for the recovery of gold from a gold-bearing aqueous filtrate, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting the aqueous filtrate with dibutyl carbitol (DBC) in a two-stage solvent extraction process to remove the gold from the aqueous filtrate into the DBC to form a gold-loaded DBC; and (D) Contacting the gold-loaded DBC with an aqueous acid scrub of hydrochloric acid in a four-stage countercurrent scrub process to remove impurities, e.g., non-gold metal, from the DBC into the aqueous scrub solution to form an impurity-loaded aqueous scrub. Each stage of the solvent extraction circuit and the aqueous acid scrub circuit is equipped with a mixing assembly and a phase separation tank in a head-tail arrangement such that the mixing assembly of one stage is adjacent to the phase separation tank of the adjacent stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Kennecott Utah Copper LLCInventors: Shijie Wang, Daniel Kim
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Publication number: 20130251609Abstract: Molybdic oxide is recovered from molybdenite by a multistep process in which (A) the molybdenite is converted to soluble and insoluble molybdic oxide by pressure oxidation, (B) the insoluble molybdic oxide is converted to soluble molybdic oxide by alkaline digestion and then combined with the soluble molybdic oxide, and (C) the molybdenum values of the combined streams are extracted into an organic phase using a nonprimary amine. The extracted molybdenum values are recovered from the organic phase using aqueous ammonia to form ammonium dimolybdate (ADM) which is recovered as refined crystals from a two-step calcination process.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER LLCInventors: Mike Rockandel, Claus Stoiber, Robert E. Crossman
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Patent number: 7721897Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting, sorting and storing samples from multiple batches of copper cathode is disclosed. Samples are collected at a sampling station and transferred to a collection container. The samples are then transferred to a sorting container by way of chutes forming a continuous path from the collection container to the sorting container. The sorting container is affixed on the top surface of an automated carousel having a plurality of sorting containers for sorting samples from multiple batches. Samples in the sorting containers are recovered into storage containers through an access door panel and a funnel placed beneath the access door.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLCInventors: Randy P. Woolley, Kevin Quapp