Patents Assigned to ASARCO LLC
  • Patent number: 8986424
    Abstract: Method for rhenium recovery from copper solvent extraction solution. It is determined whether the copper solvent extraction solution contains trace amounts of rhenium. If so, a feedstock from the copper solvent extraction solution is provided, which is then filtered, producing filtered feedstock. Trace amounts of rhenium are absorbed from the filtered feedstock using a supply of ion exchange resin selective for rhenium. The ion exchange resin is washed. Trace amounts of rhenium are eluted from the ion exchange resin using a first amount of eluent, a second amount of eluent and a third amount of eluent. The first amount and the third amount of eluent produce supplemental feedstock and the second amount of eluent produces rhenium eluate. The rhenium eluate is collected and the ion exchange resin is protonated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Asarco LLC
    Inventor: Neil Nebeker
  • Patent number: 8658114
    Abstract: A method for extracting cobalt from copper raffinate. First, a supply of raffinate containing at least cobalt, copper, ferric iron and nickel, is provided. The raffinate is pretreated by one or all of raising the raffinate pH level; removing solids; and, reducing ferric iron to ferrous iron. Substantially all copper is removed using first ion exchange resin selective for copper. A second ion exchange resin selective for both cobalt and nickel is used to remove the cobalt and nickel. Cobalt and nickel are separately eluted from the second ion exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Asarco LLC
    Inventors: Neil Nebeker, Matthew L. Rodgers, Charles R. Marston
  • Publication number: 20120152063
    Abstract: Method for rhenium recovery from copper solvent extraction solution. It is determined whether the copper solvent extraction solution contains trace amounts of rhenium. If so, a feedstock from the copper solvent extraction solution is provided, which is then filtered, producing filtered feedstock. Trace amounts of rhenium are absorbed from the filtered feedstock using a supply of ion exchange resin selective for rhenium. The ion exchange resin is washed. Trace amounts of rhenium are eluted from the ion exchange resin using a first amount of eluent, a second amount of eluent and a third amount of eluent. The first amount and the third amount of eluent produce supplemental feedstock and the second amount of eluent produces rhenium eluate. The rhenium eluate is collected and the ion exchange resin is protonated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: ASARCO LLC
    Inventor: Neil Nebeker
  • Publication number: 20110194999
    Abstract: A method for extracting cobalt from copper raffinate. First, a supply of raffinate containing at least cobalt, copper, ferric iron and nickel, is provided. The raffinate is pretreated by one or all of raising the raffinate pH level; removing solids; and, reducing ferric iron to ferrous iron. Substantially all copper is removed using first ion exchange resin selective for copper. A second ion exchange resin selective for both cobalt and nickel is used to remove the cobalt and nickel. Cobalt and nickel are separately eluted from the second ion exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: ASARCO LLC
    Inventor: Neil Nebeker