Forming Insoluble Substance In Liquid Patents (Class 423/34)
  • Patent number: 11345975
    Abstract: The main steps are as follows: purification, de-leading, recovery and filtration, dissolving lead, hot filtration, cooling filtration, washing and hot decomposition, silver is recycled as silver powder, lead was recovered in the form of red lead, yellow lead and chlorinated lead respectively. Compared to existing technologies, the invention adopts a wet process, the amount of waste gas and dust produced in the process of fire treatment is reduced; silver powder, red (yellow) lead and chloride lead were obtained, it can be sold as final product with high value-added features. The tail liquid produced by the process returns to the corresponding process respectively, and the tailless liquid is discharged. The pyrolysis flue gas returns to the lead removal process, flue gas treatment process is reduced, lead smoke pollution is avoided. This method has the characteristics of simple technics and pollution-free process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: De'an Pan, Yufeng Wu, Liquan Li
  • Patent number: 8920773
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, leaching the roasted metal hearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution, conditioning the pregnant leach solution to thrill a preprocessed metal bearing material; and leaching the preprocessed metal bearing material in acid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
  • Patent number: 8802042
    Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided, where the ore includes a first group metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operation, favoring contact for the metal elements, contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride, hydrated or anhydrous, to produce a mix of ore and iron (II or III) chloride subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxides from the second group, forming their respective chlorides, selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides, leaving the metal as oxides and in the solid state, and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Vale S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Clareti Pereira, Tiago Valentim Berni
  • Patent number: 8802041
    Abstract: There is provided a process for decontaminating and converting volumetrically contaminated radioactive metals, especially nickel, and recovering a decontaminated metal hydroxide or metal carbonate. The process includes the use of hydrogen peroxide to oxidize and remove nucleotides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toxco, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Novis Smith, David S. Eaker
  • Publication number: 20120328494
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for recovering precious metals including silver and gold, rare metals including indium and gallium, base metals including copper, lead and zinc or a combination of precious, rare and base metals from complex oxide ores, sulfide ores or oxide and sulphide ores using an acid chloride oxidizing leach.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: David DREISINGER, Ralph FITCH, Cornelis VERBAAN
  • Patent number: 8173086
    Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided, where the ore includes a first group metal selected from iron, magnesium and aluminum and a second group metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operations, favoring contact of the metal elements, contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride, hydrated or anhydrous, to produce a mix of ore and iron(II or III) chloride, subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxide, contacting the readily-formed hydrochloric acid with the base metal oxides from the second group, forming their respective chlorides, selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides, leaving the metals as oxides and in the solid state, and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Vale S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Clareti Pereira, Tiago Valentim Berni
  • Patent number: 8114365
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Freepoint-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20110274598
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing metals from waste, particularly electronic waste (or “e-waste”). The process generally includes the steps of dissolving at least some of the metals from the waste with nitric acid reagent and then causing at least some of the metals to precipitate as metal oxides and/or metal nitrates. NOx gases produced as by-product by the nitric acid dissolution of metallic components in the electronic waste are reused, in particular for generating permanganate when one of the metallic components comprises manganese.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: James R. Akridge
  • Patent number: 8052774
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for concentrating gold contained in a leach residue obtained in a copper hydrometallurgical process for recovering copper from a copper sulfide mineral to efficiently separate and recover gold from the leach residue: a gold-bearing copper sulfide mineral is subjected to pressure leaching with sulfuric acid at a temperature higher than 102° C. and 112° C. or lower to obtain a leach residue, and the leach residue is subjected to flotation to separate it into a float fraction and a sink fraction; the float fraction obtained by flotation is desulfurized to obtain a desulfurized product; the desulfurized product is subjected to oxidative roasting to obtain an oxidatively-roasted product; the oxidatively-roasted product is dissolved in a sulfuric acid solution to obtain a copper solution, and a gold-bearing residue is separated and recovered from the copper solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Nagase, Satoshi Asano, Masatoshi Takano, Kenji Takeda, Shinichi Heguri, Atsushi Idegami
  • Patent number: 8043399
    Abstract: A method for detoxifying spent CCA (copper, chromium, arsenic) treated wood, from which CCA is efficiently removed from the wood, allowing both the CCA and the wood to be reused has been developed. The method comprises the steps of (1) microwave-enhanced acid extraction of CCA, (2) separation of the acid-containing CCA solution from the wood, (3) separation/precipitation of CCA from the acid extract, (4) recovery and regeneration of CCA-bearing precipitant for reuse in the wood preservation industry, (5) recycling recovered acid solution, (6) microwave-assisted liquefaction of the extracted wood, and (7) use of detoxified liquefied wood to form polymeric materials such as polyurethanes and phenolic resin adhesives. The recovered CCA may be used to treat wood. The recovered acids may be used to extract CCA from CCA-treated wood, and the liquefied wood may be used as phenolic or polyurethane resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College LSU Inc
    Inventors: Chung-Yun Hse, Todd Finley Shupe, Bin Yu, Hui Pan
  • Publication number: 20110142736
    Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided, where the ore includes a first group metal selected from iron, magnesium and aluminum and a second group metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operations, favoring contact of the metal elements, contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride, hydrated or anhydrous, to produce a mix of ore and iron(II or III) chloride, subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxide, contacting the readily-formed hydrochloric acid with the base metal oxides from the second group, forming their respective chlorides, selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides, leaving the metals as oxides and in the solid state, and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: VALE S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Clareti Pereira, Tiago Valentim Berni
  • Patent number: 7922940
    Abstract: This invention relates to the synthesis and isolation of colloidal silver particles through the use of thermomorphic polymers and the resulting composition. It further relates to the use of the resulting composition in the preparation of inks for printing with silver-containing inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Steven Dale Ittel
  • Patent number: 7846234
    Abstract: The proposed invention relates to methods of precious metal recovery and may be applied to the recovery of precious metals from various types of mineral raw source materials containing chlorides of alkali and earth metals, e.g. collective concentrate produced from clay-salt residue of potassium production, or marker clays, etc. This method includes chlorinating roasting of the collective concentrate produced during enrichment of the material with residual chlorides content of 7-13%, or natural concentrate with up to 15% chlorides content. Thereafter, the cinder is leached by an aqua-regia solution, the precious metals are recovered from the pulp via of sorption, chlorinating roasting is held at 600-700° C., the precious metals are leached from the cinder using diluted solution of aqua-regia, and then via sorption. The process is cost-efficient due to the use of chlorinating agent, reduction of the process steps number, decreasing of the roasting temperature, and the leaching by diluted acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventors: Viktor Andreevich Sinegribov, AndreiFilippovich Smetannikov, TatyanaBorisovna Udina, PavelUrievich Novikov, Izabella Alekseevna Logvinenko, ArkadiyEvgenievich Krasnoshtein
  • Patent number: 7794677
    Abstract: Methods and systems for removing copper minerals from a molybdenite concentrate. One embodiment provides leaching copper from the molybdenite concentrate with a leaching solution comprising ferric chloride, removing molybdenite from the leaching solution, introducing an acid into the leaching solution and introducing O2, O3, or a combination of both, into the leaching solution. A method for regenerating ferric chloride in a leaching solution is also provided. One embodiment provides adding a leaching solution comprising Fe(II) ions, Fe(III) ions, or a combination of both, to a mixture of mineral sulfides, introducing an acid into the leaching solution, and introducing O2, O3, or a combination of both, into the leaching solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Air Liquide Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Jara, Sylvester Zuttah
  • Patent number: 7785395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering gold from a sulphidic concentrate, particularly one containing arsenopyrite and/or pyrite, hydro-metallurgically. The concentrate is first subjected to leaching with a concentrated solution of alkali chloride and copper (II) chloride, by means of which the copper minerals and some of the gold in the concentrate are made to dissolve. Elemental sulphur and precipitated iron and arsenic compounds are separated from the leaching residue using physical separation methods, whereby the first intermediate is obtained, which contains gold-bearing sulphide minerals and gangue minerals as well as the gold that remains undissolved. The free gold that remains undissolved is separated by means of gravity separation methods. After gravity separation, additional comminution is carried out, after which the sulphide minerals are decomposed and the gold-containing solution or residue is routed to the concentrate leaching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Jaakko Leppinen, Olli Hyvärinen, Seppo Heimala, Veikko Palosaari, Matti Hämäläinen, Tuula Hämäläinen, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7691347
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 7641817
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a silver powder having excellent dispersibility and capable of forming a paste which do not form suspended matters by phase separation and which is printed on a substrate to form a film having a uniform thickness. In this method, an alkali or a complexing agent is added to an aqueous silver salt containing solution to form a silver oxide containing slurry or an aqueous silver complex salt containing solution. After or before silver particles are deposited by reduction by adding a reducing agent to the silver oxide containing slurry or aqueous silver complex salt containing solution while stirring it, at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of compounds having an azole structure, dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy carboxylic acids and salts thereof is added to a silver power containing slurry solution as a dispersing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsushima, Kozo Ogi
  • Patent number: 7615199
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the treatment of material containing at least one valuable metal and arsenic to form a valuable metal-depleted scorodite sediment and a pure aqueous solution to be discharged from the process. According to the method, the valuable metals are first removed from the material to be treated and then arsenic precipitation from the solution is performed in two stages. By means of the method, the aim is to obtain as low a valuable metal content as possible in the scorodite sediment that will be formed. Likewise, the arsenic and valuable metal content of the aqueous solution that is formed during arsenic precipitation also remains so low that the water can be released into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jaakko Poijärvi, Raimo Nupponen, Tuula Mäkinen, Jaana Romppanen
  • Patent number: 7563420
    Abstract: Object: This invention provides a method of refining an Rh-containing solution also containing at least one type of impurities of heavy metals, alkaline earth metals, and Ag. Means for solving the problems: The invention provides a method of refining an Rh-containing hydrochloric acid solution also containing Ag and at least one other impurity of heavy metals and alkaline earth metals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) adding an alkali to the solution to adjust pH of the solution to 7-12, whereby generating a neutralized precipitate containing Rh and other components; (b) filtrating and separating the neutralized precipitate; (c) adding a first hydrochloric acid for redissolving the neutralized precipitate in an amount such that the mole ratio of Cl to Rh (mole ratio Cl/Rh) of a resulting solution becomes 3-4; (d) filtering the resulting solution to remove Ag as precipitate, and (e) extracting the solution obtained by the previous step as an aqueous phase with DEHPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoujirou Usui, Yoshio Ito, Nobuaki Okajima, Kazuhiro Sekine
  • Publication number: 20090074640
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 7297315
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of recovering a copper component or a manganese component from a cleaning agent containing copper oxide, a cleaning agent containing basic copper carbonate, a cleaning agent containing copper hydroxide, or a cleaning agent containing copper oxide and manganese oxide, the cleaning agents having been used for removing, through contact with a harmful gas, a phosphine contained as a harmful component in the harmful gas. Also, the invention provides a method of recovering a copper component or a manganese component from a cleaning agent containing basic copper carbonate, a cleaning agent containing copper hydroxide, or a cleaning agent containing copper oxide and manganese oxide, the cleaning agents having been used for removing, through contact with a harmful gas, a phosphine contained as a harmful component in the harmful gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Japan Pionics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Takashi Shimada, Minoru Osugi, Kei Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7291292
    Abstract: This invention relates to the synthesis and isolation of colloidal silver particles through the use of thermomorphic polymers and the resulting composition. It further relates to the use of the resulting composition in the preparation of inks for printing with silver-containing inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Steven Dale Ittel
  • Patent number: 7175819
    Abstract: Spent, acidic solutions comprising cupric chloride and hyrdrochloric acid from the copper etching process are regenerated by a process in which the acid is subjected to distillation with sulfuric acid. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) providing a spent etchant comprising at least about 10% by weight chloride and at least about 5% dissolved copper; (b) adding at least about 2 moles of sulfuric acid per mole of dissolved copper to the spent etching solution, thereby converting copper chloride into hydrochloric acid and precipitated copper sulfate; (c) distilling the mixture from step (b) to vaporize at least a portion of the hydrochloric acid; (d) condensing at least a portion of the vaporized hydrochloric acid; (e) separating at least a portion of the precipitated copper sulfate from the residual liquid, wherein said residual liquid comprises sulfuric acid; and (f) reusing at least a portion of the residual liquid as a sulfuric acid source in step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Phibro-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Zhao, H. Wayne Richardson
  • Patent number: 7160526
    Abstract: A chemical process for detoxifying spent CCA (copper, chrome, arsenic)—treated wood, from which CCA and detoxified wood are recovered for recycling comprising the steps of (a) treating CCA-treated wood in the presence of a liquefying reagent such as an organic solvent at 100–250° C. with or without ferrous ions to form liquefied CCA-treated wood (b) adding water or an aqueous solution of an organic solvent to the liquefied CCA-treated wood with stirring to obtain an aqueous solution of liquefied CCA-treated wood (c) adding complexing or precipitating agents, such as phosphoric acid or calcium hydroxide to the aqueous solution of step (b) thereby precipitating insoluble heavy metal complexes or precipitates and forming a solution of detoxified CCA-treated wood (d) separating said heavy metal complexes or precipitates from the solution of detoxified liquefied CCA-treated wood and (e) isolating chromated copper arsenate from said heavy metal complex or precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventors: Lin Lianzhen, Chung-Yun Hse, Todd Finley Shupe
  • Patent number: 6929677
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method where sulfidic iron-bearing copper concentrate is leached on the countercurrent principle, in a chloride environment. The leaching takes place with the aid of bivalent copper and an oxygen-bearing gas as a multi-stage continuous process, under normal pressure, at a temperature, which as highest corresponds to the boiling point of the solution. Part of the insoluble solid matter is returned, counter to the main flow of solid matter, to one of the previous leaching stages or reactors where, as a result of the extended leaching time, the leach waste iron is recovered mostly as hematite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Outokumpu Technology Oy
    Inventor: Matti Hämäläinen
  • Patent number: 6773487
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for refining silver bullion, i.e. raw silver containing generally more than 90% silver besides Se, Pb, Au, Cu and platinum group metals (PGM) as main impurities. The process comprises: optionally removing Se as gaseous SeO2 from the molten metallic phase by injecting air, which is preferably O2 enriched, into the metallic phase at a preferred bath temperature of 1000-1100° C.; optionally slagging off the Pb by contacting the molten metallic phase with a silica and borax based flux at a preferred bath temperature of 1000-1150° C.; granulating the molten metallic phase in water, thereby forming Ag rich granules; leaching the Ag rich granules with HNO3 at a temperature above 50° C., preferably in an O2 enriched atmosphere, followed by filtration, thereby separating an Au bearing residue from an Ag rich liquor; heating the Ag rich liquor, thereby evaporating H2O and forming an AgNO3 bearing melt; maintaining the AgNO3 bearing melt at a temperature of 220-350° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: UMICORE
    Inventors: Dirk Vanhoutte, Sybolt Brouwer
  • Patent number: 6716403
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of recovering a copper component or a manganese component from a cleaning agent containing copper oxide, a cleaning agent containing basic copper carbonate, a cleaning agent containing copper hydroxide, or a cleaning agent containing copper oxide and manganese oxide, the cleaning agents having been used for removing, through contact with a harmful gas, a phosphine contained as a harmful component in the harmful gas. Also, the invention provides a method of recovering a copper component or a manganese component from a cleaning agent containing basic copper carbonate, a cleaning agent containing copper hydroxide, or a cleaning agent containing copper oxide and manganese oxide, the cleaning agents having been used for removing, through contact with a harmful gas, a phosphine contained as a harmful component in the harmful gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Pionics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Takashi Shimada, Minoru Osugi, Kei Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6663689
    Abstract: A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, David R. Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W. Hazen, Christel M. A. Bemelmans
  • Patent number: 6451089
    Abstract: A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing communicated copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditional steps, and electowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, David R. Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W. Hazen, Christel M. A. Bemelmans
  • Publication number: 20020044899
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper and other metal values from metal-containing materials using controlled, super-fine grinding and medium temperature pressure leaching. Processes embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, rhenium, zinc, uranium, and platinum group metals, from metal-bearing materials, and find particular utility in connection with the extraction of copper from copper sulfide ores and concentrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, Wayne W. Hazen, Philip Thompson, David R. Baughman, Roland Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6337056
    Abstract: A process for refining noble metals from auriferous mines, wherein the auriferous material is first milled and treated with a cyanide solution, and comprising: a step for the pretreatment of the auriferous material, wherein the complexes of cyanide with noble metals are fixed on anionic resins and then incinerated; a predefining step, which comprises an etching of the materials incinerated during the pretreatment with a hydrochloric-nitric solution; and specific steps for refining the gold, palladium, platinum and silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Riccardo Reverso
  • Publication number: 20010055553
    Abstract: Copper is preferentially extracted from iron in an aqueous feedstock solution containing dissolved copper and iron values by contacting the feedstock solution with a water-immiscible organic solution comprised of a hydrocarbon solvent and a compound of the formula I 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Sang I. Kang, Phillip L. Mattison, Michael J. Virnig, R. Brantley Sudderth, George A. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 6290747
    Abstract: A method for preparing ultra-pure silver from a crude silver halide matrix containing metallic and/or non-metallic impurities, said method comprising; roasting the crude silver halide matrix to substantially remove carbonaceous material; treating the roasted crude silver halide matrix with ammonium hydroxide to dissolve the silver halides and form an ammonium hydroxide reaction mixture; adding an initial reducing agent to the ammonium hydroxide reaction mixture to precipitate a crude silver powder mixture; separating the crude silver powder mixture from the ammonium hydroxide reaction mixture dissolving the crude silver powder mixture in nitric acid to form a crude silver nitrate solution; adding a first selective reducing agent to the crude silver nitrate solution to precipitate a silver/contaminant matrix and form a partially purified silver nitrate solution; separating the partially purified silver nitrate solution from the precipitated silver/contaminant matrix; adding a second selective reducing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Weimar W. White, Gary G. Kiehl, Brian P. Cleary
  • Patent number: 6290749
    Abstract: A method for preparing ultra-pure silver from a crude silver mixture containing metallic and/or non-metallic impurities, said method comprising; dissolving the crude silver mixture in nitric acid to form a crude silver nitrate solution; adding a first selective reducing agent to the crude silver nitrate solution to precipitate a silver/contaminant matrix and form a partially purified silver nitrate solution; separating the partially purified silver nitrate solution from the precipitated silver/contaminant matrix; adding a second selective reducing agent to the partially purified silver nitrate solution to precipitate silver powder; and isolating the silver powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Weimar W. White, Gary G. Kiehl, Brian P. Cleary
  • Patent number: 6177571
    Abstract: A method for removing heavy metals, selected from palladium, tin and nickel, from heavy metal complexes with thiazole compounds in aqueous or alcoholic solution, by precipitation as sulfides, characterised in that such solutions are treated with a water-soluble ammonium, alkaline or alkaline-earth sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Zambon Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Fantucci
  • Patent number: 6129779
    Abstract: A method for reclaiming a metallic material from a article including a non-metallic friable substrate. The method comprising crushing the article into a plurality of pieces. An acidic solution capable of dissolving the metallic material is provided dissolving the metallic material in the acidic material to form an etchant effluent. The etchant effluent is separated from the friable substrate. A precipitation agent, capable of precipitating the metallic material, is added to the etchant effluent to precipitate out the metallic material from the etchant effluent. The metallic material is then recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: First Solar, LLC
    Inventors: John Raphael Bohland, Igor Ivanovich Anisimov, Todd James Dapkus, Richard Anthony Sasala, Ken Alan Smigielski, Kristin Danielle Kamm
  • Patent number: 6110254
    Abstract: A method for the chemical precipitation of metallic silver powder employs a two solution technique in which a solution of a tin salt and a solution a silver salt are mixed in the presence of an inorganic or organic acid, alumina, an anionic surfactant, and a colloid to form a precipitation solution at a temperature and pH suitable to effect the chemical precipitation of silver. Almost 80% by weight of the precipitated powder agglomerate is less than 25 .mu.m in diameter, and the individual powder particles which compose the agglomerate range in size from 0.2 to 2.0 .mu.m. In addition to the favorable size distribution, silver particles precipitated in the presence of a gelatin colloid can be used with a minimal amount of sieving so that little work hardening is imparted to the particles. The powder can be annealed at a temperature of up to 750.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Christian E. Johnson, Gery R. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5993668
    Abstract: Metal ions and/or complexes of metal ions are removed from a solution by formation of an insoluble chelated complex of the metal ions and a polymeric precipitating agent. A two-step process of mixing the influent with the precipitating agent is used to induce rapid precipitation and obtain large, self-agglomerated precipitate without addition of flocculating agent and/or pH adjustment. In addition, parallel loops are employed to simultaneously discharge treated metal-free solution and effectively collect/remove the precipitate-containing sludge without interfering with each other. The metal capturing capacity of the polymeric precipitant is maximized by forcing the influent solution through layers of the collected precipitate and by recycling unsaturated metal-precipitant complexes in the processing loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Hunt Photographic Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Hailing Duan
  • Patent number: 5961879
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the manufacture of liquid aqueous bleaching compositions comprising hypochlorite, a strong source of alkalinity and water, said process comprising the steps of: mixing said alkali metal hypochlorite, said strong source of alkalinity and said water, adding a precipitating agent, or mixtures thereof; and thereafter separating the precipitates formed from said composition. The compositions provided by the process according the present invention are substantially free of heavy metal ions, thereby providing improved whiteness performance and/or fabric safety performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Giuseppe Trigiante
  • Patent number: 5928559
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the manufacture of liquid aqueous bleaching compositions comprising alkali metal hypochlorite, a strong source of alkalinity and water; said process comprising the steps of: mixing alkali metal hypochlorite, strong source of alkalinity and said water, separating the insoluble species formed in the first step, and thereafter adding a chelating agent capable of chelating heavy metal ions. The compositions provided by the process according to the present invention are substantially free of heavy metal ions, thereby providing improved whiteness performance and/or fabric safety performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mauririo Marchesini, Giuseppe Trigiante
  • Patent number: 5912402
    Abstract: A treatment of metallurgical dust and recovery of valuable chemical commodities, comprising the steps of: leaching salts from the dust with water to create a washed EAF dust; reacting the washed EAF dust in a nitric acid solution resulting in a nearly complete dissolution of the zinc, cadmium, copper, magnesium, calcium, manganese and lead from a filtrate; removing iron from the filtrate by raising pH in the system with basic zinc carbonate; removing cadmium, copper and lead in an electrolytic cell, where copper and cadmium are collected at the cathode, and lead is collected at the anode; evaporating and decomposing the filtrate to obtain metal oxides and anhydrous calcium nitrate; leaching the solid residue with water to separate calcium nitrate in a marketable form; removing the zinc from the magnesium and manganese by leaching the residue with an amine solution; stripping the filtrate of ammonium carbonate to yield zinc precipitated as a zinc oxycarbonate; dividing the zinc oxycarbonate into a first stream
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Drinkard Metalox, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Drinkard, Jr., Hans J. Woerner
  • Patent number: 5531903
    Abstract: A process is provided for the removal of fluoride from a metal sulphate solution, such as a zinc sulphate solution, which presents an option for the disposal of waste treatment sludge from the aluminum anodizing industry. The fluoride is removed from metal sulphate solution by mixing the sludge with the solution for a predetermined period of time and then performing a solid/liquid separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Cominco Ltd.
    Inventors: Cashman R. S. M. Hampton, Victor E. Steiner, Daniel A. D. Boateng
  • Patent number: 5520814
    Abstract: A process comprising spent metal etching solutions, the process comprising the steps of: 1) extracting the metal ions from the spent etching solution by means of a liquid ion exchanger; 2) washing the liquid ion exchanger by means of water; 3) vaporizing the washing water; 4) crystallizing the concentrate after vaporization; 5) filtering the regenerated etching solution; 6) restoring the quality of the etching solution; 7) reextracting the metal from the metal-loaded ion exchanger; 8) washing the liquid ion exchanger; 9) neutralizing the washing water; 10) filtering after carrying out the neutralization; and 11) recovering metal electrolytically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: In.Tec. Italia International Environment Technology S.r.l.
    Inventor: Antonio M. Celi
  • Patent number: 5505857
    Abstract: Metals contained in various wastewaters are selectively recovered as metal precipitates and/or as spinel ferrite and water suitable for discharge into the environment is obtained. High grade magnetic spinel ferrite is recovered from wastewaters having aluminum and arsenic if present in the wastewater, removed from the wastewater. There are three process stages for the treatment of wastewater. In the first process stage which is optional, at least a portion of at least one non-ferrous or non-ferric metal is precipitated from the wastewater by subjecting the wastewater to an oxidizing agent to increase the oxidation-reduction potential of the water, by adjusting the pH of the wastewater to a pH at which the metal precipitates from the water and by adding an organic or inorganic sulfur compound, capable of causing the metal to form a precipitate, to the water in a quantity sufficient to precipitate the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignees: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc., Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada on behalf of the University of Nevada
    Inventors: Manoranjan Misra, Mark E. Kravetz, Kang Yang, Thomas E. McNeel
  • Patent number: 5380443
    Abstract: A process of treating water to remove metal ion contaminants contained therein, said metal ion contaminants selected from the group consisting of metals in Groups 8, 1b, 2b, 4a, 5a, or 6a of the periodic table, lanthanide metals, and actinide metals including transuranic element metals, by adjusting the pH of a metal ion contaminant-containing water source to within the range of about 6.5 to about 14.0, admixing the water source with a mixture of an alkali or alkaline earth ferrate and a water soluble salt, e.g., a zirconium salt, in an amount sufficient to form a precipitate within the water source, the amount the mixture of ferrate and water soluble salt effective to reduce the metal ion contaminant concentration in the water source, permitting the precipitate in the admixture to separate and thereby yield a supernatant liquid having a reduced metal ion contaminant concentration, and separating the supernatant liquid having the reduced metal ion contaminant concentration from the admixture is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James P. Deininger, Linda K. Chatfield
  • Patent number: 5342430
    Abstract: A process for the passivation of fine particulate matter exiting a reactor train for the manufacture of organohalosilanes comprising treating the particulate matter or fines with an aqueous medium comprising a polyalkylene ether surfactant and optionally an acidifying agent to produce hydrogen, separating the fines from the aqueous medium, and removing water from the fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventors: Teresa A. Grocela-Kathe, Ray W. Shade
  • Patent number: 5332560
    Abstract: A method for the recovery of copper from copper-containing materials, for example, scrap, ores or dust. An aqueous cupric tetrammine sulfate lixiviant is contacted with the copper-containing material to produce a leachate containing cuprous, nickel, and zinc ions, ammonium sulfate and free ammonia. Copper can be recovered from the leachate by electrolysis. Nickel and zinc can be precipitated from the resulting spent electrolyte by oxidizing substantially all of the cuprous ions in the copper ammine sulfate solution to cupric ions and lowering the pH of the solution to a range from about pH 7.5 to about pH 8.0 in order to form a precipitate. Alternatively, copper sulfate can be added to the cupric ammine sulfate-containing solution in order to form nickel and/or zinc containing precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Cato Research Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Kruesi, Paul R. Kruesi
  • Patent number: 5328669
    Abstract: Platinum group metals, gold and silver are extracted from complex ores, automobile scrap, refractory ores and as naturally occurring by leaching the precious metal containing materials with a solution containing halogen salts such as potassium or sodium iodide and bromide in the presence of ammonium ions and oxygen. The precious metal containing materials and reactants are charged into a reaction zone held at high temperatures and pressures to form a slurry containing a precious metal ion solution. The precious metal ion solution is separated from the slurry and subjected to recovering techniques to recover the precious metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
    Inventors: Kenneth N. Han, Xinghui Meng
  • Patent number: 5271909
    Abstract: A method of increasing the extraction of tellurium from copper electrorefining slime comprises leaching the slime with dilute sulphuric acid in a reactor under a partial oxygen pressure of up to 150 psi and at an elevated temperature between about 100.degree. and 200.degree. C. until copper, nickel and substantially all of the tellurium is dissolved, thereby forming a leach slurry, and contacting the slurry with an appropriate reducing agent immediately after the leaching operation has been halted and the leaching reactor brough back to atmospheric pressure to reprecipitate any excessive quantities of silver and selenium solubilized during the leaching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Noranda, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre L. Claessens, Carl W. White
  • Patent number: 5263044
    Abstract: Method for recognition of noble metals otherwise not recognizable in base material clusters includes using an electron beam furnace in which base material clusters are vaporized by means of an electron beam gun, and the vaporized materials are condensed as free atoms or are alloyed with other components of the base materials, and are able to be recovered by conventional recovery techniques once they are recognized. The base material includes the products of smelting processes, pellets of compacted raw material, like anode-mud or waste material, and the base materials are remelted utilizing the heat from electron beam guns for the remelting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Inventor: Siegfried M. K. Bremer