Patents by Inventor Joan E. Thomas

Joan E. Thomas 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).

  • Recovery of copper from chalcopyrite
    Patent number: 7686866
    Abstract: A process for recovering copper from chalcopyrite is disclosed. The process includes oxidising sulphur in chalcopyrite with a solution under predetermined contact conditions and thereby releasing at least part of the copper in the chalcopyrite into the solution as copper ions. The process includes a subsequent step of reducing sulphur in a solid product from step (a) to a minus two, ie. sulphide, valence state with a solution under predetermined contact conditions. The process further includes a subsequent step of oxidising sulphur in a solid product from step (b) with a solution under predetermined contact conditions and thereby releasing at least part of the remaining copper in the solid product into the solution as copper ions. The process further includes recovering copper from one or more of the solutions from steps (a) and (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Technological Resources PTY Limited
    Inventors: Raymond W. Shaw, Lucy Esdaile, Andrea R. Gerson, Joan E. Thomas, Sarah L. Harmer