Patents by Inventor Andrew Nisbett
Andrew Nisbett has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9657368Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal leach and recovery process. The process involves subjecting a metal bearing material to a reactive process by combining said metal bearing material with a leaching agent to liberate at least one metal value and forming a first aqueous leach pulp. This first aqueous leach pulp is subjected to a solid liquid separation step thereby providing a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp. The first clarified aqueous leach solution is then subjected to solvent extraction thereby obtaining the first aqueous raffinate. The second aqueous leach pulp is subjected to at least two further solid liquid separation steps of which some or all are in a counter current decantation (CCD) arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Andrew Nisbett, Stephen Adkins, Ian John Flanagan, Alexsandro Berger
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Publication number: 20150203935Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal leach and recovery process. The process involves subjecting a metal bearing material to a reactive process by combining said metal bearing material with a leaching agent to liberate at least one metal value and forming a first aqueous leach pulp. This first aqueous leach pulp is subjected to a solid liquid separation step thereby providing a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp. The first clarified aqueous leach solution is then subjected to solvent extraction thereby obtaining the first aqueous raffmate. The second aqueous leach pulp is subjected to at least two further solid liquid separation steps of which some or all are in a counter current decantation (CCD) arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Andrew Nisbett, Stephen Adkins, Ian John Flanagan, Alexsandro Berger
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Patent number: 8062614Abstract: Processes for metal leaching/solvent extraction are described which comprise: (a) providing a first aqueous leach pulp which comprises a mixture of leached solids and an aqueous leach solution comprising a metal, a leaching agent and water; (b) subjecting the first aqueous leach pulp to a first solid-liquid separation to provide a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp, wherein the second aqueous leach pulp comprises the leached solids at a % solids level greater than the first pulp; (c) subjecting the first clarified aqueous leach solution to a first solvent extraction prior to any significant dilution, whereby a first aqueous raffinate is obtained; (d) subjecting the second aqueous leach pulp to a second solid-liquid separation with dilution via an aqueous stream to obtain a second clarified aqueous leach solution; and (e) subjecting the second clarified aqueous leach solution to a second solvent extraction whereby a second is aqueous raffinate is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbHInventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett
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Publication number: 20100319490Abstract: Processes for metal leaching/solvent extraction are described which comprise: (a) providing a first aqueous leach pulp which comprises a mixture of leached solids and an aqueous leach solution comprising a metal, a leaching agent and water; (b) subjecting the first aqueous leach pulp to a first solid-liquid separation to provide a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp, wherein the second aqueous leach pulp comprises the leached solids at a % solids level greater than the first pulp; (c) subjecting the first clarified aqueous leach solution to a first solvent extraction prior to any significant dilution, whereby a first aqueous raffinate is obtained; (d) subjecting the second aqueous leach pulp to a second solid-liquid separation with dilution via an aqueous stream to obtain a second clarified aqueous leach solution; and (e) subjecting the second clarified aqueous leach solution to a second solvent extraction whereby a second is aqueous raffinate is obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: COGNIS IP MANAGEMENT GMBHInventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett
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Publication number: 20100282025Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved process for metal recovery from ore using agitation leaching comprising dividing leaching of the crushed and mined ore into at least two sequential leaching-solids-liquid separation-solvent extraction sub-circuits, with no significant dilution during solids-liquid separation in these units, and the raffinate from solvent extraction being recycled back to the leaching, with the underflow pulp from the second liquid-solids separator being sent to a final solid-liquid separator, with water washing, from which the washed solids are sent to disposal and the clarified aqueous wash solution is sent to a final solvent extraction, with some or all of the metal-depleted aqueous raffinate from this final solvent extraction being optionally neutralized, and/or being circulated back to the third solid-liquid separation as wash solution and/or to recovery of other metals and/or to disposal to maximize metal recovery and maintain water balance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2008Publication date: November 11, 2010Inventor: Andrew Nisbett
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Patent number: 7799294Abstract: Processes for metal leaching/solvent extraction are described which comprise: (a) providing a first aqueous leach pulp which comprises a mixture of leached solids and an aqueous leach solution comprising a metal, a leaching agent and water; (b) subjecting the first aqueous leach pulp to a first solid-liquid separation to provide a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp, wherein the second aqueous leach pulp comprises the leached solids at a % solids level greater than the first pulp; (c) subjecting the first clarified aqueous leach solution to a first solvent extraction prior to any significant dilution, whereby a first aqueous raffinate is obtained; (d) subjecting the second aqueous leach pulp to a second solid-liquid separation with dilution via an aqueous stream to obtain a second clarified aqueous leach solution; and (e) subjecting the second clarified aqueous leach solution to a second solvent extraction whereby a second aqueous raffinate is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbHInventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett
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Patent number: 7635457Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a process for enhanced recovery of one or more metal values from heap and/or dump leaching of ores containing the metal values, the process comprising: (a) providing a high grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of fresh high grade ore containing a first metal value; (b) subjecting the high grade leach solution to a first solvent extraction of the first metal value and applying the resulting first aqueous raffinate to leach fresh high grade ore; (c) providing a low grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore of the first metal value; and (d) subjecting the low grade leach solution to a second solvent extraction of the first metal value, separate from the first solvent extraction of the first metal value, and applying the resulting separate, second aqueous to leach partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore, wherein the first and second aqueous raffinates are not intermixed prior to being applied tType: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: COGNIS IP Management GmbHInventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett, Hans C. Hein
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Publication number: 20060117908Abstract: The disclosed invention concerns a process comprising: (a) providing a pregnant leach solution comprising copper values; (b) contacting the pregnant leach solution with an organic phase comprising a copper extractant at an extraction temperature, Text, to form a loaded organic phase comprising the metal values; (c) contacting the loaded organic phase with an aqueous stripping solution at a stripping temperature, Tstrip, to form a copper-enriched stripping solution; wherein the difference in temperature (?T) between the stripping temperature and the extraction temperature according to equation (I): ?T=Tstrip?Text is less than or equal to about 10° C. In other increasingly more preferred embodiments of the invention, the difference in temperature (?T) is less than or equal to about 5° C., less than or equal to about 2.5° C., less than or equal to about 0° C., less than or equal to about ?5° C., and less than or equal to about ?10° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2005Publication date: June 8, 2006Inventors: Michael Virnig, R. Sudderth, Philip Crane, Andrew Nisbett, Burrel Boley, Dustin Gordon, Gary Kordosky
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Publication number: 20060088458Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a process for enhanced recovery of one or more metal values from heap and/or dump leaching of ores containing the metal values, the process comprising: (a) providing a high grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of fresh high grade ore containing a first metal value; (b) subjecting the high grade leach solution to a first solvent extraction of the first metal value and applying the resulting first aqueous raffinate to leach fresh high grade ore; (c) providing a low grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore of the first metal value; and (d) subjecting the low grade leach solution to a second solvent extraction of the first metal value, separate from the first solvent extraction of the first metal value, and applying the resulting separate, second aqueous to leach partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore, wherein the first and second aqueous raffinates are not intermixed prior to being applied to thType: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2005Publication date: April 27, 2006Inventors: Gary Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett, Hans Hein
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Publication number: 20050031512Abstract: Processes for metal leaching/solvent extraction are described which comprise: (a) providing a first aqueous leach pulp which comprises a mixture of leached solids and an aqueous leach solution comprising a metal, a leaching agent and water; (b) subjecting the first aqueous leach pulp to a first solid-liquid separation to provide a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp, wherein the second aqueous leach pulp comprises the leached solids at a % solids level greater than the first pulp; (c) subjecting the first clarified aqueous leach solution to a first solvent extraction prior to any significant dilution, whereby a first aqueous raffinate is obtained; (d) subjecting the second aqueous leach pulp to a second solid-liquid separation with dilution via an aqueous stream to obtain a second clarified aqueous leach solution; and (e) subjecting the second clarified aqueous leach solution to a second solvent extraction whereby a second aqueous raffinate is obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: Gary Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett