Patents by Inventor Grenvil DUNN

Grenvil DUNN 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).

  • Purification of copper concentrate by removal of arsenic and antimony with concomitant regeneration and recycle of lixiviant
    Patent number: 10385420
    Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for the removal of arsenic and antimony from a so-called “dirty” copper concentrate (101) is described. The process comprises the following steps: Step 1: repulping (100) the “dirty” copper concentrate with an alkaline lixiviant (102, 103), and subjecting the “dirty” copper concentrate to an alkaline leaching process (“the Leach”) in a Leach reactor (110). The arsenic and antimony are dissolved in the Leach to produce a “clean” copper concentrate (138) and leach discharge liquor (132). Step 2: subjecting the Leach discharge liquor (132) to a lime treatment step (151) in order to regenerate (150) the alkaline lixiviant as well as precipitate an impurity rich precipitate (161) containing arsenic and antimony. Then the impurity rich precipitate (161) is separated (160) from the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162). The impurity rich precipitate is washed and disposed of in an environmentally safe condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: Alchemides Pty Ltd, Hydromet (Pty) Ltd, Promet 101 Consulting Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Peter John Bartsch, Grenvil Dunn, Stuart Saich
  • PURIFICATION OF COPPER CONCENTRATE BY REMOVAL OF ARSENIC AND ANTIMONY WITH CONCOMITANT REGENERATION AND RECYCLE OF LIXIVIANT
    Publication number: 20170145540
    Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for the removal of arsenic and antimony from a so-called “dirty” copper concentrate (101) is described. The process comprises the following steps: Step 1: repulping (100) the “dirty” copper concentrate with an alkaline lixiviant (102, 103), and subjecting the “dirty” copper concentrate to an alkaline leaching process (“the Leach”) in a Leach reactor (110). The arsenic and antimony are dissolved in the Leach to produce a “clean” copper concentrate (138) and leach discharge liquor (132). Step 2: subjecting the Leach discharge liquor (132) to a lime treatment step (151) in order to regenerate (150) the alkaline lixiviant as well as precipitate an impurity rich precipitate (161) containing arsenic and antimony. Then the impurity rich precipitate (161) is separated (160) from the regenerated alkaline lixiviant (162). The impurity rich precipitate is washed and disposed of in an environmentally safe condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Peter John BARTSCH, Grenvil DUNN, Stuart SAICH