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).

  • Patent number: 9657368
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Andrew Nisbett, Stephen Adkins, Ian John Flanagan, Alexsandro Berger
  • Publication number: 20150203935
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Nisbett, Stephen Adkins, Ian John Flanagan, Alexsandro Berger
  • Patent number: 8062614
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbH
    Inventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett
  • Publication number: 20100319490
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: COGNIS IP MANAGEMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett
  • Publication number: 20100282025
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Andrew Nisbett
  • Patent number: 7799294
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbH
    Inventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett
  • Patent number: 7635457
    Abstract: 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 t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: COGNIS IP Management GmbH
    Inventors: Gary A. Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett, Hans C. Hein
  • Publication number: 20060117908
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Virnig, R. Sudderth, Philip Crane, Andrew Nisbett, Burrel Boley, Dustin Gordon, Gary Kordosky
  • Publication number: 20060088458
    Abstract: 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 th
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Gary Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett, Hans Hein
  • Publication number: 20050031512
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Gary Kordosky, Andrew Nisbett