Patents by Inventor Chris Du Plessis

Chris Du Plessis 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).

  • Publication number: 20240002977
    Abstract: Process for gold and/or platinum group metals heap leaching comprising irrigating a heap (1) with an irrigation solution (9, 10, 11 & 12) containing sodium cyanide for leaching gold and/or platinum group metals from said gold and/or platinum group metals containing ore where a lime reagent addition (B) by feeding a fine particle lime suspension containing lime particles in an aqueous phase is done in the irrigation solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: S.A. Lhoist Recherche et Developpement
    Inventors: Chris Du Plessis, Hugues Lambert, Deborah A. Ballard
  • Publication number: 20230128925
    Abstract: Alkaline oxidation process for treating refractory sulfide ore or concentrate particles enriched in a metal to be recovered comprising stages in which refractory ore or concentrate particles are surface-oxidized in an alkaline oxidation step in alkaline liquid phase with calcium hydroxide forming an alkaline slurry, which slurry is thereafter mechanically activated to remove passivating coatings from the surface oxidized refractory ore particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: S.A. Lhoist Recherche et Developpement
    Inventors: Chris Du Plessis, Hugues Lambert, Alireza Rabieh, Jacobus Johannes Eksteen
  • Publication number: 20220170133
    Abstract: Process for gold and/or platinum group metals heap leaching comprising irrigating a heap with an irrigation solution containing sodium cyanide for leaching gold and/or platinum group metals from a gold and/or platinum group metals containing ore. A lime reagent is added by feeding a fine particle lime suspension containing lime particles in an aqueous phase in an irrigation solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: S. A. Lhoist Recherche et Developpement
    Inventors: Chris Du Plessis, Hugues Lambert, Deborah Ballard
  • Patent number: 8734757
    Abstract: A process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odor-free product comprises any one or more than one of (a) organics removal by (i) treatment of a froth product slurry containing floated mineral particles to remove organic compounds from the mineral particles and/or (ii) thermal treatment, and (b) addition of chemicals to prevent residual organic compounds on mineral concentrates being converted to odorous compounds, particularly while the concentrates are being stock-piled or transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SSM Development Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris du Plessis, Geoffery David Senior
  • Publication number: 20110150728
    Abstract: A process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odour-free product comprises any one or more than one of (a) organics removal by (i) treatment of a froth product slurry containing floated mineral particles to remove organic compounds from the mineral particles and/or (ii) thermal treatment, and (b) addition of chemicals to prevent residual organic compounds on mineral concentrates being converted to odorous compounds, particularly while the concentrates are being stock-piled or transported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Chris Du Plessis, Geoffery David Senior
  • Publication number: 20110129891
    Abstract: A method for leaching a material containing one or more target metals using an acidic leaching solution to extract said one or more target metals, said method including (I) empirically determining an optimal acid concentration range for said acidic leaching solution by: (a) determining the relationship between the concentration of extracted target metal/s and acid consumption in said leaching solution, (b) utilizing said relationship to evaluate value parameters for the target metal containing material as a function of said acid consumption, and (c) determining said optimal acid concentration range, which is the pH range corresponding to an optimal value parameter; and (II) controlling the concentration of said acidic leaching solution such that its pH is substantially within the optimal acid concentration range throughout said material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Chris du Plessis
  • Publication number: 20080020244
    Abstract: An enzymatic fuel cell in which use is made of enzymes and lipids derived from thermophilic bacteria or archaea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Chris Du Plessis
  • Publication number: 20070169587
    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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Sanette De Kock, Paul Barnard, Clint Bowker, Hannes Strauss, Craig Buuren, John Batty, Chris Du Plessis