Patents Assigned to BHP Billiton SA Limited
  • Method of treating a sulphide mineral
    Patent number: 8597933
    Abstract: A copper bioleaching process which makes use of a consortium which contains Leptospirillum ferriphilum and a sulphur oxidising microorganism which is halophilic or halotolerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: George Frederick Rautenbach, Carol Susan Davis-Belmar, Cecilia Susana Demergasso
  • High temperature leaching process
    Patent number: 8268038
    Abstract: A method of conducting a bioleaching process including the steps of forming a main heap, culturing at least one microorganism which exhibits bioleaching activity in a predetermined temperature range, monitoring the temperature in the main heap, which is a result, at least, of microbial leaching activity and inoculating the heap with the cultured microorganism at least before the temperature reaches the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: David Dew, Jaco Willem Steyn, Susanna Helena Minnaar
  • Chloride heap leaching
    Patent number: 8070851
    Abstract: A heap leaching method to recover copper from a primary copper sulphide mineral wherein the mineral is leached in an acidic chloride/sulphate solution in the presence of oxygen with the surface potential of the mineral below 600 mV (vs. SHE) to cause dissolution of the copper sulphide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: Elmar L. Muller, Petrus Basson, Michael J. Nicol
  • Method of and apparatus for simulating a biological heap leaching process
    Patent number: 7727510
    Abstract: A microbiological heap leaching simulation process wherein material, representative of ore in a heap, is microbiologically leached in a housing and the temperature of the material at a plurality of locations in the housing is monitored and controlled to reduce heat loss from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventor: Craig Van Buuren
  • Metal recovery from a tank bioleaching solution with the use of coated magnetic particles
    Patent number: 7578868
    Abstract: Small magnetic particles are introduced into a solution which is subjected to a bioleaching process. The particles are coated with a substance which has a selective affinity for, and which interacts with, a metal in the solution. The particles are taken from the solution and the metal is recovered from the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventor: Chris Andre du Plessis
  • Heap bioleaching process
    Patent number: 7563304
    Abstract: A heap bioleaching process wherein carbon, in the form of a carbonate, carbon dioxide or organic carbon, is added to the heap when the temperature in the heap is in the range of 45° C. to 60° C. to increase microbial activity and thereby raise the heap temperature to about 60° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: Chris Andre Du Plessis, Sanet H. De Kock
  • Optimization of bioleaching process
    Patent number: 7494529
    Abstract: A method for optimizing a bioleaching process, at least in respect of heat generation and primary copper sulphide leaching, by actively monitoring and controlling inorganic and organic compounds in a raffinate solution, produced in the process, to levels below that which could be inhibitory to microbial activity of bioleaching strains used in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: Sanette H. De Kock, Paul Barnard, Clint Bowker, Hannes Strauss, Craig Van Buuren, John Batty, Chris Andre Du Plessis
  • Recovery of metals from jarosite-containing materials
    Patent number: 7037357
    Abstract: A method to dissolve at least one metal from jarosite or other iron hydroxyl sulphate containing-material which includes the steps of subjecting the material to alkaline treatment in a brine solution to facilitate jarosite decomposition, and acidification of the brine slurry to solubilise the liberated metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: Noelene Ahern, Jozef Maria Schaekers
  • Delivery system for heap bioleaching
    Publication number: 20040235141
    Abstract: A method of heap leaching wherein a gaseous suspension which contains a microbial inoculum or nutrients is introduced into the heap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventor: Chris Andre Du Plessis