Patents by Inventor Wayne W. Hazen

Wayne W. Hazen 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: 9340849
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Wayne W Hazen, Lawrence D May, Jay C Smith, David R Baughman
  • Publication number: 20160053341
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M. Morgan, Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Publication number: 20150361527
    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: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anand Raman, Jason M. Morgan, Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Patent number: 9169533
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Patent number: 9023313
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Raman, Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Patent number: 8920773
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
  • Publication number: 20140262816
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method comprising leaching a cobalt bearing material to form a slurry, filtering the slurry to yield solids and a cobalt bearing liquid phase, performing a solution extraction of the cobalt bearing liquid phase to yield a purified cobalt bearing liquid phase, precipitating cobalt gypsum by adding lime to a first portion of the purified cobalt bearing liquid phase, and recycling the cobalt gypsum to the leaching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nitin Goel, Ari Gabriel Partanen, Wayne W. Hazen, Phil Rooke
  • Publication number: 20140262814
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method comprising electrowinning a first portion of a conditioned cobalt bearing solution to yield cobalt metal, subjecting a second portion of a conditioned cobalt bearing solution to a first ion exchange to yield a second conditioned cobalt bearing solution, performing cobalt selective solution extraction on the second conditioned cobalt bearing solution to yield a refined cobalt containing liquid and, precipitating a cobalt salt by adding a precipitating agent to a first portion of the refined cobalt containing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nitin Goel, Ari Gabriel Partanen, Wayne W. Hazen, Phil Rooke
  • Publication number: 20140262815
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method comprising producing a cobalt hydroxide bearing material, leaching the cobalt hydroxide hearing material to form a slurry, filtering the slurry to yield solids and a cobalt bearing liquid phase, performing a solution extraction of the cobalt bearing liquid phase to yield a purified cobalt bearing liquid phase, conditioning a first portion of the purified cobalt bearing liquid phase to yield a conditioned cobalt bearing solution and, electrowinning the conditioned cobalt bearing solution to yield cobalt metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nitin Goel, Ari Gabriel Partanen, Wayne W. Hazen, Phil Rooke
  • Publication number: 20140262817
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method comprising leaching a cobalt bearing material to form a slurry, filtering the slurry to yield solids and a cobalt bearing liquid phase, and forwarding the solids to a second leaching operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nitin Goel, Ari Gabriel Partanen, Wayne W. Hazen, Phil Rooke
  • Patent number: 8828353
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • 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: 20130152741
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M. Morgan, Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Patent number: 8420048
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Raman, Jason M. Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Patent number: 8372361
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Patent number: 8372360
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120060651
    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: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • 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: 20110277593
    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: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen