Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for the processing of ore and ore tailings to recover metals, minerals and rare earth elements, and more particularly to a method and system for treating the ore and ore tailings using a closed loop chlorine gas oxidant treatment system using an electrochemical cell and the co-addition of an additional oxidizer such as chloric acid to enhance the dissolution of the metals from the ore which is then further processed to separate and recover the metals.

Abstract: A method for leaching one or more target metals from a sulfide ore and/or concentrate containing such, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Exposing the ore and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution of chlorine-based oxidising species in which the hypochlorous acid comprises at least 10 mol % of the chlorine-based oxidising species; (b) Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the target metals by the hypochlorous acid, thereby decreasing the pH such that the predominant chlorine-based oxidising species becomes chlorine; (c) Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the target metals by the chlorine; (d) Allowing and/or facilitating the dissolution of the target metals by the solution species formed during the oxidation by hypochlorous acid and/or chlorine; and (e) Passing the pregnant solution produced thereby to a means for metal recovery.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is a method of processing a waste material that contains mercury or a mercury compound, and chlorine or a mercury chloride, the method including a step of adding a chlorine scavenger to the waste material, and stowing the waste material in a treatment vessel; and a step of subjecting the waste material to a blasting treatment by fitting an explosive to the treatment vessel and detonating the explosive inside a pressure-proof container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing mercury from gases such as those discharged from roasters and other heat producing systems. In embodiments the method comprises reacting the mercury with dissolved molecular chlorine, and may also comprise reacting the mercury with mercuric chloride to yield mercurous chloride. The mercurous chloride may be removed by precipitation. There are also disclosed apparatuses for implementing the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for recovering precious metals including silver and gold, rare metals including indium and gallium, base metals including copper, lead and zinc or a combination of precious, rare and base metals from complex oxide ores, sulfide ores or oxide and sulphide ores using an acid chloride oxidizing leach.

Abstract: A process for leaching a value metal from a base metal sulfide ore, comprising the step of leaching the ore with a lixiviant comprising a chloride, an oxidant and hydrochloric acid is disclosed. The leaching is controlled, by use of low concentrations of hydrochloric acid and a redox potential, to effect formation of hydrogen sulfide from the base metal sulfide ore. The hydrogen sulfide is stripped from the leach solution, thereby reducing the amount of sulfate generated in the leach to very low levels. The leaching may also be conducted to limit the co-dissolution of platinum group metals and gold with the base value metals. The leach forms a value metal-rich leachate and a solids residue. The solids residue may be subsequently leached to recover the platinum group metals and gold. The value metal-rich leachate can be oxidized and neutralized to recover the value base metals. In an embodiment, the chloride is magnesium chloride and lixiviant solution is regenerated.

Abstract: The proposed invention relates to methods of precious metal recovery and may be applied to the recovery of precious metals from various types of mineral raw source materials containing chlorides of alkali and earth metals, e.g. collective concentrate produced from clay-salt residue of potassium production, or marker clays, etc. This method includes chlorinating roasting of the collective concentrate produced during enrichment of the material with residual chlorides content of 7-13%, or natural concentrate with up to 15% chlorides content. Thereafter, the cinder is leached by an aqua-regia solution, the precious metals are recovered from the pulp via of sorption, chlorinating roasting is held at 600-700° C., the precious metals are leached from the cinder using diluted solution of aqua-regia, and then via sorption. The process is cost-efficient due to the use of chlorinating agent, reduction of the process steps number, decreasing of the roasting temperature, and the leaching by diluted acid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating and recovering base metals from a used hydroprocessing catalyst originating from Group VIB and Group VIII metals and containing at least a Group VB metal. In one embodiment, the used catalyst is contacted with an ammonia leaching solution to dissolve and separate the Group VIB and VIII metals from the Group VB metal complex and coke associated with the used catalyst. The resulting Group VIB and VIII metal containing solution is processed through at least two additional precipitation and liquid/solid separation steps to produce, in separate processing streams, a Group VIB metal product solution (such as ammonium molybdate) and a Group VIII metal product solution (such as nickel sulfate). Additionally, two separate filtrate streams are generated from liquid-solid separation steps, which filtrate streams are combined and subjected to hydrolysis and oxidation (oxydrolysis) to generate a purified ammonium sulfate solution for further processing, such as for fertilizer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating and recovering base metals from a used hydroprocessing catalyst originating from Group VIB and Group VIII metals and containing at least a Group VB metal.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane arranged between the anode and the cathode. A fuel deficiency countermeasure is implemented for the anode and a fuel deficiency countermeasure is implemented for the cathode. As a result, the fuel cell suppresses a decline in performance caused by a fuel deficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering gold from a sulphidic concentrate, particularly one containing arsenopyrite and/or pyrite, hydro-metallurgically. The concentrate is first subjected to leaching with a concentrated solution of alkali chloride and copper (II) chloride, by means of which the copper minerals and some of the gold in the concentrate are made to dissolve. Elemental sulphur and precipitated iron and arsenic compounds are separated from the leaching residue using physical separation methods, whereby the first intermediate is obtained, which contains gold-bearing sulphide minerals and gangue minerals as well as the gold that remains undissolved. The free gold that remains undissolved is separated by means of gravity separation methods. After gravity separation, additional comminution is carried out, after which the sulphide minerals are decomposed and the gold-containing solution or residue is routed to the concentrate leaching circuit.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a reaction layer composed of a catalyst carrier, formed of a compound having inorganic electron conductor units and inorganic proton conductor units in its molecular structure, and a catalyst supported on the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: A method for treating a polymetallic sulfide ore containing gold and/or silver, and further containing base metals selected from the group consisting of iron, aluminum, chromium, titanium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, mercury, tin, and mixtures thereof, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of grinding the polymetallic sulfide ore to produce granules, oxidizing the granules to produce oxidized granules, and chloride leaching the granules using a brine solution including dissolved halogens, as well as chloride and bromide salts.

Abstract: A chemical process to leach copper concentrates in the presence of a concentrated solution of sulfates and chlorides. The process includes forming a high reactivity chemical paste containing a high concentration of ions in the liquid phase of the paste which react with copper ores and forms a series of soluble salts. The salts are extracted by a simple wash. Mixing equipment for handling high viscosity liquids is used. The total mixing time is about 5 minutes, after which the paste is poured into a rectangular mold, of several hundred meters per side, and is left to settle and breathe. During settling, water and sulfuric acid are added at intervals to replace that consumed by the reactions taking place during the aeration, until the reactions have virtually end. This treatment results in a dry, very resistant mass, containing the copper extracted in form of chlorine salts, and sulfate.

Abstract: A method for treating a polymetallic sulfide ore containing gold and/or silver, and further containing base metals selected from the group consisting of iron, aluminum, chromium, titanium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, mercury, tin, and mixtures thereof, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of grinding the polymetallic sulfide ore to produce granules, oxidizing the granules to produce oxidized granules, and chloride leaching the granules using a brine solution including dissolved halogens, as well as chloride and bromide salts.

Abstract: A process for the selective removal of a least a portion of at least one precious metal in the form of a metal-cyanide complex from an ion-exchange resin to which the precious metal and at least one base metal-cyanide complex are bound, wherein the at least one precious metal is eluted from the resing by contacting the resin with an eluent comprising at least one counter-ion contained in a solvent selected from an organic solvent or a combination of an organic solvent and an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A method for treating a polymetallic sulfide ore containing gold and/or silver, and further containing base metals selected from the group consisting of iron, aluminum, chromium, titanium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, mercury, tin, and mixtures thereof, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of grinding the polymetallic sulfide ore to produce granules, oxidizing the granules to produce oxidized granules, and chloride leaching the granules using a brine solution including dissolved halogens, as well as chloride and bromide salts.

Abstract: Precious metal values, e.g., platinum, palladium and rhodium, and, optionally, other valuable elements, e.g., one or more rare earths and cerium in particular, are recovered from a wide variety of compositions of matter and articles of manufacture, for example waste or spent catalysts such as vehicular postcombustion catalysts, by (i) optionally comminuting such composition/article into a finely divided state, (ii) intimately admixing the composition/article with sulfuric acid, (iii) calcining the resulting admixture at a temperature ranging from 150° to 450° C., and (iv) leaching the calcined admixture in an aqueous medium, whether simultaneously or separately, with H+ ions and chloride ions, whereby obtaining (1) a solid residue substantially depleted of such precious metal values and, optionally, of such other elements, and (2) at least one liquid solution comprising such precious metal values and, optionally, such other elements.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the separation of vaporous heavy metal compounds from a carrier gas wherein the heavy metal compounds are cooled and desublimed. An apparatus for carrying out this process has a melting furnace with a discharge opening for a gas/ vapor mixture, which leads to a cooling device.Vaporous heavy metal compounds can be separated from a carrier gas on a large industrial scale. In addition, the apparatus for carrying out this process is easy to operate. The gas/vapor mixture is turbulently mixed immediately after the discharge from the furnace in a mixing section with cold air and is thus cooled. During this cooling, the vaporous heavy metal compounds desublime and are filtered as particles in a filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering precious metals using a combination of smelting and an effective utilization of molten salt chlorination. More specifically, disclosed is a process including the steps of (i) contacting, for example, a matte with a chloride salt containing at least one of potassium, cesium or rubidium, but not sodium or lithium to form a matte/salt solids mixture, (ii) introducing the solids mixture into a chloride melt having a temperature ranging from 300.degree. C. to 650.degree. C., said melt containing at least one of potassium, cesium, rubidium, sodium or lithium, (iii) introducing a chlorine containing gas into the melt, and (iv) maintaining the salt ratio in the matte/salt mixture at a stoichiometrically equivalent amount with the precious metals and base metals contained in the matte.

Abstract: A process for separating precious metals from an MnO.sub.2, sulfidic or carbonaceous refractory ore or refractory feed such as tailings is provided. The process includes the step of leaching a feed with a leach liquor that includes an acid selected from the group of HCl and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in the presence of MnO.sub.2 and a reductant. A source of chloride ion is added to the leach sufficient to dissolve at least about 50% of the precious metals present in the ore. A portion of the leach is removed and precious metals are recovered from the removed portion. A portion of the chloride carrier is recycled to the leach to carry chloride values to the leach. In one embodiment, HCl is regenerated by pyrohydrolysis, which minimizes harmful waste products. The present process can advantageously avoid the use of noxious reagents.

Abstract: Metal values are solubilized from ore by a lixiviant having a pH from 5 to 8, comprising an aqueous solution of a chloride salt and a hypochlorite salt. Cyanuric acid may be added to retard decomposition of the lixiviant. In one alternative embodiment, any remaining hypochlorite ions are then eliminated by adding hydrogen peroxide or a reducing agent to the pregnant lixiviant. Metal values are recovered by reduction using carbon, electrowinning, or other conventional techniques. In an alternative embodiment for extraction of gold or silver, the steps are combined by using finely ground ore containing sulfides or carbonaceous material to both reduce any remaining hypochlorite ions and precipitate the metal values from the lixiviant. The lixiviant can then be regenerated either by electrolysis or addition of hypochlorite salt.

Abstract: The present invention is a process to recover precious metals from sulfide ores. It involves chlorinating a mixture of an ore concentrate and salt to form a liquid melt. The salt preferably contains potassium chloride. This chlorination is carried out at a temperature between 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. while stirring. The process converts precious metals in the elemental and sulfide forms into precious metal chlorides which are recovered by subsequent processing steps.

Abstract: A method of treating a gold-bearing ore to render the gold component of the ore more amenable to standard cyanidation treatment in a reduced amount of time is disclosed. An aqueous slurry of the gold-bearing ore is introduced into at least one vessel. An oxidizing agent, such as chlorine gas, an alkali metal hypochlorite and an alkaline earth metal hypochlorite, is rapidly introduced into the vessel so that it intimately contacts the aqueous slurry. While the oxidizing agent is being introduced into the vessel, the slurry is agitated with agitating means including a plurality of impeller blades that provide high shear agitation and a large interfacial surface area between the oxidizing agent and the liquid phase of the slurry to enhance the mass transfer of the oxidizing agent so that it becomes substantially completely adsorbed by the aqueous slurry in about 5 to about 15 minutes.

Abstract: A method for removing and recovering toxic heavy metal contaminants from an iron-bearing sludge is provided. The method comprises one or more cycles of a two step, controlled chloride leach comprising a first non-acidic chloride leaching solution and a second acidic chloride leaching solution, wherein said toxic heavy metals are separated from said sludge and said iron-bearing sludge is a substantially non-hazardous material.

Abstract: Nickel is separated from copper contained in predominantly nickel- and copper-bearing sulphidic matte and alloys by chlorine leaching in an autoclave at over-atmospheric pressure. The leaching is conducted in an acidic solution at a redox potential range which favors the dissolution of nickel over copper. The obtained leach solution is purified in a cementation step carried out at atmospheric or over-atmospheric pressure by adding more sulphidic matte or alloy particles. The separated purified solution is treated for nickel recovery. Any cobalt present in the sulphidic matte or alloy reports with the nickel. Copper is recovered from the separated residue, which will also retain precious metals, if present.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for enrichment of gold, platinum and palladium from copper electrolysis anode sludge, and simultaneously recovery of selenium, in which the sludge is treated with Cl.sub.2 /HCl to transform the selenium of a hexavelent state and precipitate out silver chloride. The filtrate is then subjected to selective reduction of precipitate the noble metals and the resulting filtrate is chlorinated and a further reduction is effected to precipitate the metallic selenium.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for recovering pure silver from sludge formed at the anode in copper electrolysis and other sources comprises suspending the sludge, after removing Pb, Ni, and Cu, in hydrochloric acid, subsequently adding an alkali metal hypochlorite, preferably NaOCl, to the resulting suspension to convert the silver present to AgCl, filtering to separate the AgCl containing solid residue from the filtrate containing the other metallic elements, and finally working up the AgCl containing residue to obtain high purity silver. Preferably the high purity silver is obtained from the AgCl containing residue by leaching with an alkaline ammoniacal solution to dissolve the silver as the soluble silver diamine chloride, and subsequently reducing the silver diamine chloride to silver metal. The reducing agent for the silver diamine chloride is preferably either a Cu.sup.+ containing compound such as CuCl or a metal powder such as copper or bronze powder.

Abstract: Metal values are separated from arsenic sulfide ores in a hydrometallurgical oxidation process using a balanced reactant slurry. The molar concentration of As and Sb in the reactant slurry is controlled with respect to the molar concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the slurry so that, upon reacting, soluble arsenic compounds or toxic arsenic vapors are not formed.

Abstract: A metal is electrodeposited in a continuous cyclic electrolytic/carbon oxidation process wherein ferrous ion is oxidized at the anode and a metal is deposited at the cathode of an electrolytic cell. The ferric ions produced at the anode are thereafter reduced to ferrous ions by contact with a solid carbonaceous material and the ferrous ions are recycled for electrochemical reoxidation.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the selective dissolution of oxygenated compounds containing at least one non-ferrous metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, zinc, and copper, present in a mixture of oxygenated compounds containing said at least one non-ferrous metal and at least one element selected from the group consisting of lead, cobalt, iron, manganese, and silicon, and comprises suspending the mixture of the oxygenated metallic compounds in an aqueous phase which, preferably, contains chloride and alkaline earth metal ions; treating the resulting aqueous suspension, maintained at a pH exceeding about 1, with chlorine, preferably at a temperature ranging from about 60.degree. C. to the boiling point of the suspension, to selectively solubilize the said at least one non-ferrous metal while the said at least one element remains in an essentially insoluble residue; and separating the aqueous solution containing the dissolved said at least one non-ferrous metal from the insoluble residue.

Abstract: The process comprises the steps of leaching the concentrate with hot hydrochloric acid and chlorine gas to dissolve most of the gold, platinum and palladium, treating the residue from the leaching step with an excess of an alkaline oxidizing agent to solubilize the ruthenium, slurrying the resulting solids in water, combining the precious metal values from the slurry with the liquor from the leaching step and releaching the resulting slurry with hot hydrochloric acid and chlorine. The leach liquor which is then separated from the remaining solids is a chloride solution which contains substantially all the platinum group metals and gold present in the concentrate.

Abstract: A method of recovering gold from anode slimes resulting from electrolytic copper refining comprises treating the anode slimes to remove copper and selenium, forming an aqueous slurry from the treated slimes, blowing chlorine gas into the aqueous slurry to dissolve the gold therein, and separating the so-dissolved gold from the residue.

Abstract: A non-polluting chemical process for recovery of metals from metal containing ores or other solid materials by:(1) Treating the ore with a large volume of an aqueous solution containing chloride and hypochlorite ions (lixiviant solution);(2) Recovering the solubilized metal values from the lixiviant solution by cementation;(3) Regenerating the hypochlorite ion by electrochemical means; and(4) Recycling the lixiviant solution.In certain instances, steps (3) and (4) may be omitted with hypochlorite ion being provided as makeup to the circuit from external sources. The process of this invention has been shown to be effective for use with ores containing carbonate and cyanicidic minerals, including calcite.

Abstract: Recovery of cobalt and manganese from residue of trimellitic acid manufacture and recovery as 4-carboxy-phthalic anhydride by extracting the residue with an aqueous alkaline solution containing carbonate ions which leaves a precipitate of metal carbonates, dissolving said precipitate as the metal chlorides, and at an upwardly adjusted pH adding powdered manganese to precipitate metallic cobalt and separating it by magnetic means.

Abstract: A process for recovering gold from a raw material containing gold by treating the raw material with either aqua regia or hydrochloric acid to form chloroauric acid, extracting the chloroauric acid with an organic solvent and reducing the acid to precipitate gold for separation and recovery.

Abstract: A process for the dissolution of precious metal values in a concentrate thereof wherein the concentrate is caused to alloy with aluminum and the alloy is then leached in at least two steps, the first of which is to remove base metals and in the second of which the precious metals are dissolved using hydrochloric acid and chlorine gas or nitric acid as an oxidant.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for treating a nickel matte to recover essentially pure nickel comprising: treating an aqueous mixture of the matte with chlorine to produce a solid residue and an aqueous lixiviating solution having a pH value which is substantially nil or positive; treating the lixiviating solution to produce a solution containing primarily nickel chloride; and electrolyzing the solution to recover pure nickel at the cathode.

Abstract: A method for recovering nonferrous metal values from hydroxide sludge wastes containing same by first chlorinating the aqueous waste to oxidize the chromium therein, separating the insoluble components therefrom and treating the resulting Cr(VI) solution in a fixed bed anion exchanger to separate the Cr(VI) from the solution, separating the copper from the aqueous solution by liquid-liquid extraction, separating the zinc from the copper-free solution by liquid-liquid extraction, precipitating and separating the aluminum in the form of hydroxide from the zinc-free solution and then separating the nickel from the aluminum-free solution by liquid-liquid extraction, and recovering the nonferrous metals from the respective solutions and precipitates by conventional procedures.

Abstract: The recoverability by cyanidation of the gold content of sedimentary gold-bearing ores containing organic carbonaceous material and gold-bearing pyrite, or other gold-bearing sulfides, is greatly increased by heating an aqueous slurry of the ore to about 167.degree. to 212.degree. F. and then introducing air or oxygen into the heated slurry to oxidize and eliminate a substantial portion of the carbonaceous material and oxidizable sulfides in the slurried ore, followed by cooling the slurry to about 70.degree. to 85.degree. F. and then introducing chlorine gas into the slurry to substantially complete the oxidation and chlorination of the carbonaceous content of the slurried ore. The ore is then subjected to conventional cyanidation to recover the gold content thereof.

Abstract: A method of extracting constituent metal values from sea nodules containing copper, cobalt, iron and nickel is disclosed. The method involves melting the nodules under reducing conditions to obtain a concentrate containing said metals and reacting the metal concentrate in an aqueous medium with gaseous chlorine to obtain an aqueous solution containing the chlorides of said metal. Copper is thereafter precipitated from the aqueous solution and subsequently electrorefined, while the iron and cobalt are extracted from the aqueous solution by means of organic extractants and then re-extracted from the organic phases by aqueous phases.

Abstract: An improvement in conventional processes for recovering metal values from sulfide ores containing lead, zinc and silver sulfides in which process the metal sulfides are converted to chlorides by chlorination followed by solubilization of the chlorides with a sodium chloride leach and subsequent recovery of the metals from their chlorides in accordance with a conventional flow sheet including crystallization, cementation, precipitation, fused salt electrolysis, etc., with chlorine being recovered for reuse by electrolysis of the sodium chloride leach solution substantially depleted of lead, silver and zinc, the improvement being a pollution-free process which comprises:1. recycling the sodium chloride solution depleted of a major percentage of lead and silver to the sodium chloride or brine leaching step; and2.

Abstract: A method for selectively dissolving non-ferrous metals contained in pyritic ores by the steps of crushing the ores, introducing the crushed ore at a temperature above the ambient temperature into a reaction vessel containing a solution of chlorides of a metal having two valance states, and injecting gaseous chlorine into the reaction vessel at a rate such that the oxido-reduction potential of the solution of chlorides remains between 400 and 700 mv during the operation.

Abstract: A chemical process for treating metal sulfide materials, such as copper sulfide concentrates, to produce water-soluble metal chlorides and preclude the production of undesirable sulfur oxides. Such a metal sulfide material is contacted with an effective amount of a chlorinating reagent solution at a temperature below the boiling point of the reagent solution. The reaction proceeds until the metal sulfides are converted into metal chlorides and elemental sulfur is formed. The chlorinating reagent solution contains a chlorinating agent having a labile chlorine atom capable of reacting with the metal values to form metal chlorides, and at least one liquid hydrocarbon solvent which is capable of solubilizing both the chlorinating agent and the elemental sulfur produced during the reaction. The metal chloride product, which is insoluble in the reagent solution, is recovered from such solution by conventional means, e.g. by filtration, for conversion into the metal or metals.

Abstract: Complex sulfide ores or concentrates are decomposed by treatment with a combination of chlorine and oxygen, the amount of chlorine being limited to that necessary to convert sulfides of the desired metals, such as zinc, lead, copper, cadmium, silver, nickel and cobalt to chlorides.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic lead and silver from materials such as ores and concentrates containing the corresponding sulfides and particularly a mixture of minerals such as galena and tetrahedrite in which process the minerals are initially roasted under neutral conditions which include a non-oxidizing or even slightly reducing atmosphere at an elevated temperature for a time equivalent to about 1.5 hours at about 550.degree.-600.degree.C. to produce a roasted mineral product in which the roasting causes certain unidentified changes but with the resulting roasted product being more easily leachable so that the process of removing the silver and lead can be greatly simplified.

Abstract: The raw material contains 80% by weight of an alloy of two at least of the metals of the group Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co (and possibly sulphur), in the form of ingots, scrap-metal or mats, in pieces less than 200 mm in size. The alloys are firstly subjected to a chlorination operation at a temperature comprised between 600.degree.C and 1350.degree.C and then to the recovery operation for the chlorides formed. An enclosure, called a chlorination enclosure, is charged with (a) the alloy, (b) a gaseous mixture containing chlorine and HCl, (c) oxygen, and (d) at least one agent for regulating the temperature of the enclosure. The composition of the gaseous mixture, when it is constituted at the same time of Cl.sub.2 and of HCl, responds to the following conditions:5 % < the proportion of Cl.sub.2 < 90 %1 % < the proportion of HCl < 75 %1 % < the proportion of O.sub.2 < 35 %the partial pressures satisfying on their part the following conditions:2P.sub.Cl.sbsb.2 + P.sub.HCl > 0.2 atmosphere, andP.sub.