Patents by Inventor FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION

FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION 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: 20130213820
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130206588
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130156661
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, leaching the roasted metal hearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution, conditioning the pregnant leach solution to thrill a preprocessed metal bearing material; and leaching the preprocessed metal bearing material in acid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130153436
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130126341
    Abstract: An electrode for use in producing copper in either a conventional electrowinning cell or the direct electrowinning cell is provided. The electrode includes a hanger bar and an electrode body coupled with the hanger bar. The electrode body includes at least one conductor rod having a core and an outer layer surrounding the core and a substrate coupled with the conductor rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-McMORAN CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130118310
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide new methods of rhenium recovery. The methods can include subjecting a metal-bearing solution to an activated carbon bed, and adsorbing rhenium onto the activated carbon. The methods can also include heating a basic aqueous elution solution and eluting the rhenium from the activated carbon with the heated elution solution. The methods can also incorporate an ion exchange as a rhenium recovery apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130121910
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for controlled leaching and sequential recovery of two or more metals from metal-bearing materials. In one exemplary embodiment, recovery of metals from a leached metal-bearing material is controlled and improved by providing a high grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) and a low grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) to a single solution extraction plant comprising at least two solution extractor units, at least two stripping units, and, optionally, at least one wash stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION