Forming Sulfide Or Matte Patents (Class 423/48)
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Patent number: 11293076Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing iron ore concentrates by recycling copper smelting slag tailings, and belongs to the technical field of metallurgy and tailings recycling. In the present invention, copper slag tailings obtained after copper pyrometallurgy and flotation and water are used as raw materials, and low-concentration sulfur dioxide flue gas is used as a leaching agent for leaching of metals such as iron, zinc, copper, arsenic, and silicon in the slag tailings; the leachate is purified step by step through processes such as replacement by metal iron powder and sulfide precipitation control, to separate zinc, copper, arsenic, etc.; a purified solution is mainly composed of FeSO4 or can be used for producing a ferric salt flocculant; obtained tailings are used to obtain iron ore concentrates through magnetic separation, and the obtained iron ore concentrates can be used for further producing ultra-pure iron ore concentrates.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Kunming University of Science and TechnologyInventors: Ping Ning, Xueqian Wang, Lei Tao, Langlang Wang
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Patent number: 9903005Abstract: A method and device for depleting copper smelting slag. The method comprises mixing copper smelting molten slag (1) with a reductant (2) and an inert gas (3) under pressure, and then depleting same. The device for depletion comprises a furnace body (4), which furnace body (4) is provided with a feed opening (413) and a slag discharge port (416), and gas nozzles (411) disposed on the side wall of the furnace body.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: YANGGU XIANGGUANG COPPER CO., LTD.Inventors: Songlin Zhou, Weidong Liu, Hu Wang
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Patent number: 8912111Abstract: A process for slurry hydrocracking catalyst recovery is described. In one embodiment, the process includes separating effluent from a slurry hydrocracking zone into a first portion comprising solvent and clarified pitch and a second portion comprising pitch and catalyst. The second portion is contacted with an acid to leach the catalyst out of the pitch forming an aqueous solution and pitch residue. The aqueous solution is contacted with an anion to form an insoluble salt which is the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Rajeswar R. Gattupalli, Grant H. Yokomizo, Bart Dziabala
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Patent number: 8771619Abstract: A method for selectively removing arsenic from a sulphide material containing arsenic by conducting a leaching step that includes contacting the material with a leaching solution that leaches arsenic from the material to form a pregnant liquor containing dissolved arsenic and a solid of a sulphide material of reduced arsenic content, and subsequently separating the solid from the pregnant liquor. The fresh leaching solution that is provided to the leaching step is an alkaline solution having a sulphide-containing compound present in an amount of from 0 to 1.0 times the amount of sulphur containing compound required to react with the arsenic present in the material.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Xstrata Queensland LimitedInventors: David Nakon, David Michael Way
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Patent number: 8088353Abstract: A process for producing a Group II metal sulfide phosphor precursor, comprising adding to an organic solvent an aqueous solution containing at least one of a Group II element compound, a sulfurizing agent, and a compound containing any of copper, silver, manganese, gold, and rare-earth elements to obtain a reaction mixture, heating the reaction mixture to produce an azeotrope of the water and the organic solvent, and removing water from the reaction mixture to produce a desired Group II metal sulfide in the reaction mixture, wherein the removal of water from the reaction mixture occurs by recovering only the water condensed from a vapor produced by the azeotropic distillation.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Takai, Yoshihisa Tsuji, Hideharu Iwasaki
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Patent number: 8071181Abstract: The invention provides a metal nanoparticle comprising a metal and a chiral and/or thiolate group bonded to the metal. The monolayer-protected metal nanoparticle may be used as a chiral dopant in a liquid crystal. Accordingly, the invention also provides a colloidal suspension or dispersion comprising a metal nanoparticle comprising a metal and a chiral and/or thiolate group bonded to the metal, and a liquid crystal.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: University of ManitobaInventors: Torsten Hegmann, Hao Qi
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Patent number: 7968065Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Jaguar Nickel Inc.Inventors: G. Bryn Harris, Vaikuntam I. Lakshmanan, Ramamritham Sridhar, Geroge Puvvada
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Patent number: 7575629Abstract: Sorbents for removal of mercury and other pollutants from gas streams, such as a flue gas stream from coal-fired utility plants, and methods for their manufacture and use are disclosed. The methods include mixing fly ash particles with a sulfide salt and a metal salt to form a metal sulfide on the outer surface of the fly ash particles.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: BASF Catalysts LLCInventors: Xiaolin David Yang, Pascaline Harrison Tran, Lawrence Shore, Stanley Scott Mack, James Eugene Staudt
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Patent number: 7022469Abstract: A silver halide emulsion is disclosed, comprising at least one monovalent Au(I) complex coordinated with a compound represented by the following formula (1): R1—Ch—R2??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R1 and R2 may combine with each other to form a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring, and Ch represents a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or a tellurium atom.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Hirotomo Sasaki
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Patent number: 6911570Abstract: The invention relates to a method, composition and apparatus for stabilizing mercury and other heavy metals present in a particulate material such that the metals will not leach from the particulate material. The method generally involves the application of a metal reagent, a sulfur-containing compound, and the addition of oxygen to the particulate material, either through agitation, sparging or the addition of an oxygen-containing compound.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: ADA Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Broderick, Rachel L. Roth, Allan L. Carlson
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Publication number: 20020106317Abstract: The invention relates to a method, composition and apparatus for stabilizing mercury and other heavy metals present in a particulate material such that the metals will not leach from the particulate material. The method generally involves the application of a metal reagent, a sulfur-containing compound, and the addition of oxygen to the particulate material, either through agitation, sparging or the addition of an oxygen-containing compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: August 8, 2002Inventors: Thomas E. Broderick, Rachel L. Roth, Allan L. Carlson
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Patent number: 5672328Abstract: By using a method of removing silver in the form of sparingly soluble silver salt, especially silver sulfide, from a solution containing another silver compound, such as a silver thiosulfate complex in a photographic fix or rinsing fluid by precipitation, the solution is subjected to electromagnetic irradiation with a wavelength below 375 nm. The irradiated liquid is led through a filter-like means 33 which binds the silver sulfide to its surface as crystalline silver sulfide. As a result, the silver sulfide is precipitated and deposited on the surface of the means as solid silver sulfide which in its turns acts as a catalyst for further precipitation and depositing of solid silver sulfide on the surface of the means. By binding the solid silver sulfide to the surface of the means, the required capacity of a possible subsequent filter is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1992Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Eskofot A/SInventor: Thomas Busch-S.o slashed.rensen
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Patent number: 5498398Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for treating a spent copper-refining electrolyte to remove impurities such as copper (Cu), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), nickel (Ni) and the like by using a hydrogen sulfide gas. The method comprises the steps of: (a) blowing a hydrogen sulfide gas into the spent electrolyte to precipitate copper sulfide (CuS); (b) blowing air into the coprecipitates solution obtained in the above step (a) to oxidize arsenic, bismuth and antimony thereby redissolving them into the solution, and the solution is subjected to solid-liquid separation to separate copper sulfide from the liquid; (c) blowing a sulfur dioxide gas into the copper-depleted liquid to reduce arsenic, bismuth and antimony and blowing a nitrogen gas to purge the remaining sulfur dioxide gas; (d) blowing a hydrogen sulfide gas to precipitate arsenic, bismuth and antimony in the form of sulfides and blowing a nitrogen gas to purge the remaining hydrogen sulfide gas and separating arsenic sulfide (As.sub.2 S.sub.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1994Date of Patent: March 12, 1996Assignee: Lucky Metals CorporationInventors: Seong W. Kang, Yong H. Lee
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Patent number: 5238662Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1992Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Chevron Research CompanyInventor: Michael Dubrovsky
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Patent number: 5178842Abstract: According to the method of the invention, at least one or several of the metals nickel, cobalt and copper can be selectively precipitated as sulphide by aid of elemental sulphur from aqueous solutions containing other metals such as zinc. The temperature of the reaction is above the melting point of sulphur. The precipitation is carried out with a pH value below 2. The metals to be precipitated can be present in the solution either as oxides or sulphates. If the metals are sulphates, the sulphide of at least one of the metals is prepared to crystal seeds in the solution before precipitation.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1988Date of Patent: January 12, 1993Assignee: Outokumpu OyInventor: Sigmund P. Fugleberg
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Patent number: 5176802Abstract: A hydrometallurgical method is provided for recovering copper from particulate copper sulfide flotation concentrate containing at least about 20% copper by weight as cuprous and cupric sulfide, a significant portion of the copper in the copper sulfide concentrate being in the cuprous state. The flotation concentrate in the finely divided state is subjected to leaching with an alkaline solution of ammonia plus ammonium sulfate at a temperature ranging from about 10.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., preferably about 20.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. the amount of concentrate being proportioned at least stoichiometrically to the ammonia concentration of the leaching solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1991Date of Patent: January 5, 1993Assignee: Willem P. C. DuyvesteynInventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Robert N. Hickman
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Patent number: 5074910Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1990Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: Chevron Research and Technology CompanyInventor: Michael Dubrovsky
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Patent number: 5013355Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing matte and/or metal from sulphidic fine-grained ore or ore concentrate. The ore or ore concentrate is smelted in a flame chamber in such a way that at least part of the solid material in the flame chamber melts and flows downward into a smelt bath furnace, on top of which the flame chamber is disposed. Volatile metallic and sulphuric components are conducted upward from the flame chamber to a fluidized bed reactor to be utilized as fluidizing gas, the gases being rapidly cooled down in the fluidized bed.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1989Date of Patent: May 7, 1991Assignee: A. Ahlstrom CorporationInventors: Hans I. Elvander, Rolf E. Malmstrom
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Patent number: 4511540Abstract: Process for treating oxidized ores with a manganiferous matrix to recover the small quantities of copper, nickel and cobalt, which consists of attacking the aforementioned ore by means of an aqueous solution of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with the simultaneous injection of sulfur dioxide, at a temperature which does not exceed boiling point of the medium, at a pH less than 1.5; introducing an alkaline sulfide to precipitate the copper, nickel and cobalt sulfides in the suspension resulting from the attack; and separating by sulfides and the residue by flotation. The process is applicable to attacks on manganiferous nodules obtained from ocean beds as well as to attacks on land manganiferous matrix oxidized ores.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1981Date of Patent: April 16, 1985Assignee: Pechiney Ugine KuhlmannInventors: Charles Crussard, Pierre Maurel, Jean Bonhomme
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Patent number: 4504309Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for converting non-ferrous mattes is disclosed. The process comprises feeding continuously or intermittently a liquid matte into a furnace while continuously blowing air, oxygen or oxygen-enriched air into the melt contained in the furnace at a rate in balance with the rate of liquid feed matte and the desired degree of oxidation, introducing flux into the furnace at a rate in balance with the feed matte and air, oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, and removing slag from the top of the melt and a refined product from beneath the melt while continuously blowing air, oxygen or oxygen-enriched air through the melt.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1983Date of Patent: March 12, 1985Assignee: Noranda Inc.Inventors: Phillip J. Mackey, J. Barry W. Bailey
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Patent number: 4431614Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gold and silver from complex sulfide ores and concentrates which, in addition to the primary metals, contain constituents having an adverse effect on the separation of the noble metals, by heating the sulfide ore or concentrate at a temperature of 600.degree.-900.degree. C. and a sulfur pressure of 0.2-1 atm in order to bring the complex metal compounds to a suitable form for subsequent alkalic cyanide leaching, and by separating the gold- and silver-bearing cyanide solution from the undissolved residue.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1981Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Assignee: Outokumpu OyInventors: Simo A. I. Makipirtti, Veikko M. Polvi, Kaarlo M. J. Saari, Pekka T. Setala
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Patent number: 4385038Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery of lead, silver and gold from the iron-bearing residue of an electrolytic zinc process by froth-flotating a slurry of the iron-bearing residue in the presence of a sulfidic collector agent in order to froth-flotate the sulfides and to separate them from the iron-bearing residue. The iron-bearing residue is sulfidized selectively in order to convert the lead, silver and possibly gold substantially quantitatively to sulfides before the iron-bearing residue is froth-flotated.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1981Date of Patent: May 24, 1983Assignee: Outokumpu OyInventors: Jussi K. Rastas, Kaarlo M. J. Saari, Vaino V. H. Hintikka, Jaakko O. Leppinen, Aimo E. Jarvinen
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Patent number: 4377410Abstract: To recover chromium and other metals from scrap such as superalloy scrap, the scrap is sulfided to provide a molten matte which is cooled and fragmented, the fragments are leached selectively in an aqueous solution with chlorine at a controlled temperature and with agitation while controlling chlorine flow by redox potential to provide the major portion of the chromium in the leach residue and dissolving other valuable metals present as chlorides and thereafter recovering the chromium from the solid.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1980Date of Patent: March 22, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the InteriorInventors: John A. Thomas, David L. Jones, Victor A. Ettel
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Patent number: 4323541Abstract: A finely-ground nickel-copper matte is leached using an acid at a minimum temperature of approx. 80.degree. C. and under oxidizing conditions in order to produce a nickel sulfate solution and a nickel-cooper sulfide residue, which is separated from the solution and thereafter the nickel-copper sulfide residue is leached using acid in an autoclave at a minimum temperature of 110.degree. C. and under oxidizing conditions in order to produce an additional quantity of nickel sulfate solution and a copper sulfide precipitate.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1980Date of Patent: April 6, 1982Assignee: Outokumpu OyInventors: Heimo U. A. Saarinen, Matti Seilo
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Patent number: 4289530Abstract: Symmetrical quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula ##STR1## are disclosed, wherein each Ar is identical and is phenyl or a condensed polynuclear aryl group having 2 to 4 aryl nuclei, each R is identical and is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, X.sup..crclbar. is a salt-forming anion of valence 1 or 2 and n is 1 or 2 depending on the choice of X. Also disclosed are apparatus and processes for the recovery of heavy metals such as silver, gold and other precious metals from solution in water. The disclosed quaternary ammonium compounds are adsorbed to a suitable substrate, preferably alumina, and the treatment water is passed therethrough. A second bed of divided metal such as aluminum is disclosed for use in series with the bed incorporating the quaternary ammonium compounds.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1980Date of Patent: September 15, 1981Assignee: Albee Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Guy A. Rich
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Patent number: 4278539Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing heavy metals as sulfides from aqueous liquids. The aqueous liquid is introduced into a circulating liquid loop wherein there are established a mixing zone, a controlled precipitation initiating zone, a crystal growing zone and a crystal settling zone. The aqueous feed liquid containing H.sub.2 S dissolved therein and at a pH below that at which the sulfide is precipitated is mixed in the loop with a pH-adjusting liquid; and the degree of supersaturation with respect to the metal sulfide is maintained within the controlled precipitation initiating and crystal growing zones in the metastable condition so that the growth rate of the metal sulfide crystals remains greater than under uncontrolled conditions vis-a-vis the nucleation rate to effect the production of metal sulfide crystals of a character which makes it possible to separate them through clarification and filtration.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1978Date of Patent: July 14, 1981Assignee: Arthur D. Little, Inc.Inventors: Chakra J. Santhanam, Ravindra M. Nadkarni
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Patent number: 4260588Abstract: A process for the production of a sulphidic copper concentrate from a complex sulphidic concentrate containing as its main constituents copper, iron and at least one non-ferrous metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, lead, nickel and cobalt, comprising mixing the complex sulphidic concentrate with a copper-containing predominantly chloridic solution thereby to form a suspension, and treating the suspension thus obtained at elevated temperature and pressure at a pH-value of below 3, thereby to form a sulphidic copper concentrate, thereby the non-ferrous metals being extracted from the concentrate without formation of significant amount of acid. Precious metals may also be present. Advantageously the ratio by weight of the complex concentrate added to the copper-containing predominantly chloridic solution to the copper content of the solution is such that the predominantly chloridic solution after being at least partly freed from copper by an exchange reaction has a potential at 60.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1979Date of Patent: April 7, 1981Assignee: Duisburger DupferhutteInventors: Norbert L. Piret, Meinolf Hopper, Herbert Kudelka
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Patent number: 4241031Abstract: A process is provided for leaching nickeliferous sulfide material, such as NiS precipitate and thermally activated nickel sulfide material, e.g., nickel matte, the process comprising subjecting nickeliferous sulfide material in the finely divided state to leaching in hydrochloric acid of concentration ranging from about 3 N to 8 N at a temperature of over 50.degree. C., the temperature and acid concentration being selected to dissolve at least about 50% by weight of the total contained nickel.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1979Date of Patent: December 23, 1980Assignee: Amax Inc.Inventors: Gustavo A. Meyer, John R. Carlberg, Cvetko Nikolic
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Patent number: 4157912Abstract: A process for treating thermally activated metal sulfides containing copper, iron and zinc for separate recovery of zinc as zinc sulfide in which the metal sulfides are subjected to a two-stage countercurrent acid leach for the formation of copper sulfide containing acid leach residue and ferrous sulfate solution. The second-stage acid leach is performed in two steps; the first step is operated at a relatively high pulp density and high acid concentration for iron and zinc extraction, the resulting slurry diluted, and the second step is operated at a relatively low pulp density and low acid concentration for dissolution of precipitated ferrous sulfate and precipitation of any dissolved copper values by H.sub.2 S. The diluent solution for the slurry from the second-stage first step preferably is generated sulfuric acid solution from a jarosite precipitation and iron and zinc-containing solution from a subsequent activation leach.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1978Date of Patent: June 12, 1979Assignees: Cominco Ltd., Sherrit Gordon Mines LimitedInventors: Donald R. Weir, Godefridus M. Swinkels, Ernest G. Parker, Eva A. Vosahlo, Roman M. Genik-Sas-Berezowsky
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Patent number: 4127639Abstract: Aqueous lead solutions obtained by hot chloride leaching of residues containing lead and silver ore are subjected to selective precipitation of the silver as silver sulphide, with e.g. hydrogen sulphide. The silver can then be recovered in a known manner. Lead can be precipitated from the remaining solution as a basic salt also in a known manner. If the initial residue contains copper, it is also precipitated as sulphide. The copper sulphide can be separated from the precipitate by selectively dissolving the copper with sulphuric acid under an elevated oxygen pressure. Elemental sulphur is formed and the silver sulphide can be separated from the elemental sulphur in a known manner.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1976Date of Patent: November 28, 1978Assignee: Duisburger KupferhutteInventors: Norbert L. Piret, Wilhelm Roever
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Patent number: 4049438Abstract: Manganiferous deep sea nodules containing non-ferrous metal values are selectively reduced to reduce manganic oxides to manganous oxide (MnO) and the non-ferrous metal values to the metallic state, and the selectively reduced nodules are then smelted to produce a molten metallic alloy containing the non-ferrous metal values and a slag containing most of the manganese. The molten alloy is blown with a free-oxygen-containing gas to eliminate most of the manganese, and the substantially manganese-free metal is then sulfided to produce a matte suitable for separation and recovery of the non-ferrous metal values. After sulfiding the matte can be blown with a free-oxygen-containing gas to lower the iron content thereof. Not all the iron is removed if it is advantageous to keep a high proportion of cobalt in the matte.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1975Date of Patent: September 20, 1977Assignee: The International Nickel Company, Inc.Inventors: Ramamrithan Sridhar, John Stuart Warner, Malcolm Charles Evert Bell
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Patent number: 4004990Abstract: A process for separating and recovering nickel and cobalt is provided wherein a sulfide material containing cobalt and nickel is first oxidation-roasted to remove volatiles and to convert the metallic values into their oxides. These oxides are then dissolved in an aqueous solution of HCl. The solution of chloride salts thus produced is contacted with an extraction solvent comprising an admixture of trinormaloctylamine and xylene whereby the bulk of the cobalt along with the iron, copper and zinc impurities and a portion of the manganese impurities present in the original material are stripped by the extraction solvent while the bulk of the nickel and the remainder of the manganese impurities remain in the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase containing the nickel and manganese impurities is treated with chlorine gas and nickelous carbonate whereby the manganese is precipitated as manganese dioxide. The nickelous chloride solution is then subjected to electrolysis to produce metallic nickel.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1974Date of Patent: January 25, 1977Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., LimitedInventors: Airi Suetsuna, Toshimasa Iio
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Patent number: 3985555Abstract: Chalcopyrite is decomposed by treatment with aqueous acid solution and a metallic reductant to form either metallic copper or copper sulfide, ferrous iron and hydrogen sulfide.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1975Date of Patent: October 12, 1976Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the InteriorInventors: Monte B. Shirts, Walter L. Staker
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Patent number: 3962051Abstract: A method is provided for leaching comminuted nickeliferous sulfide matte containing by weight about 20% to 75% nickel, about 5% to 50% copper, non-stoichiometric sulfur in the range of over 4% to about 20%, over 0.5% to about 15 or 20% iron, the sum of the nickel, copper and sulfur contents being at least about 80% of the matte composition, with the balance gangue or slag and incidental impurities.The matte, because of the iron content, is first granulated by quenching molten matte from a temperature at least about 10.degree.C above its solidus-liquidus temperature but below its boiling point, following which the matte is comminuted and subjected to atmospheric leaching to dissolve nickel selectively therefrom using a spent copper electrolyte solution containing sulfuric acid having a pH ranging up to about 2 while aerating said solution to cause the pH to rise to above 5 and effect substantial precipitation of copper and iron.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1974Date of Patent: June 8, 1976Assignee: Amax Inc.Inventors: Raymond D. Symens, Paul B. Queneau, Antonio E. Blandon