Patents by Inventor John C. Wilmot

John C. Wilmot 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: 8506673
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a, process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: James D Gillaspie, David R Baughman, Dennis D Gertenbach, Wayne W Hazen, George Owusu, John C Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20130001093
    Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for recovering metal values from a metal-bearing materials, and more specifically, a process for recovering copper and other metals through leaching, electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction, and the synergistic addition of ferrous iron to the leach step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, James D. Gillaspie, John C. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 8273237
    Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for recovering metal values from a metal-bearing materials, and more specifically, a process for recovering copper and other metals through leaching, electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction, and the synergistic addition of ferrous iron to the leach step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, James D. Gillaspie, John C. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20120125160
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a, process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C Wilmot
  • Patent number: 8114365
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Freepoint-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20110014097
    Abstract: A system and method for producing molybdenum oxide(s) from molybdenum sulfide are disclosed. The system includes a pressure leach vessel, a solid-liquid separation stage coupled to the pressure leach vessel, a solvent-extraction stage coupled to the solid-liquid separation stage, and a base stripping stage coupled to the solvent-extraction stage. The method includes providing a molybdenum sulfide feed, subjecting the feed to a pressure leach process, subjecting pressure leach process discharge to a solid-liquid separation process to produce a discharge liquid stream and a discharge solids stream, and subjecting the discharge liquid stream to a solvent extraction and a base strip process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Amelunxen, John C. Wilmot, Chris Easton, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Publication number: 20110000337
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 7824633
    Abstract: A system and method for producing molybdenum oxide(s) from molybdenum sulfide are disclosed. The system includes a pressure leach vessel, a solid-liquid separation stage coupled to the pressure leach vessel, a solvent-extraction stage coupled to the solid-liquid separation stage, and a base stripping stage coupled to the solvent-extraction stage. The method includes providing a molybdenum sulfide feed, subjecting the feed to a pressure leach process, subjecting pressure leach process discharge to a solid-liquid separation process to produce a discharge liquid stream and a discharge solids stream, and subjecting the discharge liquid stream to a solvent extraction and a base strip process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Amelunxen, John C. Wilmot, Chris Easton, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Patent number: 7736487
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper and/or other metal values from a metal-bearing ore, concentrate, or other metal-bearing material using pressure leaching and direct electrowinning. More particularly, the present invention relates to a substantially acid-autogenous process for recovering copper from chalcopyrite-containing ore using pressure leaching and direct electrowinning in combination with a leaching, solvent/solution extraction and electrowinning operation. In accordance with one aspect of the process, at least a portion of the residue from the pressure leaching operation is directed to a heap, stockpile or other leaching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, John C. Wilmot, Christy Green, Wayne W. Hazen, David R. Baughman
  • Patent number: 7691347
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20090183997
    Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for recovering metal values from a metal-bearing materials, and more specifically, a process for recovering copper and other metals through leaching, electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction, and the synergistic addition of ferrous iron to the leach step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, James D. Gillaspie, John C. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20090074640
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D. Gillaspie, David R. Baughman, Dennis D. Gertenbach, Wayne W. Hazen, George Owusu, John C. Wilmot
  • Publication number: 20080118422
    Abstract: A system and method for producing molybdenum oxide(s) from molybdenum sulfide are disclosed. The system includes a pressure leach vessel, a solid-liquid separation stage coupled to the pressure leach vessel, a solvent-extraction stage coupled to the solid-liquid separation stage, and a base stripping stage coupled to the solvent-extraction stage. The method includes providing a molybdenum sulfide feed, subjecting the feed to a pressure leach process, subjecting pressure leach process discharge to a solid-liquid separation process to produce a discharge liquid stream and a discharge solids stream, and subjecting the discharge liquid stream to a solvent extraction and a base strip process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Amelunxen, John C. Wilmot, Chris Easton, Wayne W. Hazen