Patents by Inventor Marc Richer-Laflèche

Marc Richer-Laflèche 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: 7972412
    Abstract: A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a solid material containing a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ressources Minieres Pro-Or Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Bergeron, Marc Richer-Lafléche
  • Publication number: 20100257978
    Abstract: A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a solid material containing a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Mario Bergeron, Marc Richer-Lafléche
  • Patent number: 7658894
    Abstract: A method for increasing the chrome to iron ratio of a chromite product selected from the group consisting of ore and ore concentrate comprising the steps of mixing the chromite product with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is selected to induce the selective chlorination of iron; and chlorinating the mixture in the presence of CO at a temperature sufficient to induce the formation of a thin film of a melt around the chromite product and at a temperature able to promote the selective chlorination of iron, whereby an iron impoverished chromite product is yielded having an increased chromite to iron ratio as compared to that of the chromite product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ressources Minieres Pro-OR Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Bergeron, Marc Richer-Laflèche
  • Publication number: 20070131058
    Abstract: A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Mario Bergeron, Marc Richer-Lafleche
  • Publication number: 20060123951
    Abstract: A method for increasing the chrome to iron ratio of a chromite product selected from the group consisting of ore and ore concentrate comprising the steps of mixing the chromite product with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is selected to induce the selective chlorination of iron; and chlorinating the mixture in the presence of CO at a temperature sufficient to induce the formation of a thin film of a melt around the chromite product and at a temperature able to promote the selective chlorination of iron, whereby an iron impoverished chromite product is yielded having an increased chromite to iron ratio as compared to that of the chromite product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Mario Bergeron, Marc Richer-Lafleche