Using Nonmetallic Material Which Is Liquid Under Standard Conditions (e.g., Hydrometallurgy, Etc.) Patents (Class 75/711)
  • Publication number: 20110011215
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a novel rare metal extractant containing a cyclic phenol sulfide derivative of the formula (1) and a method for extractive separation of rare metal(s) using the rare metal extractant with high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: AKITA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kondo, Chun-bin Li, Manabu Yamada, Fumio Hamada
  • Patent number: 7871454
    Abstract: This invention provides chemical processes for the treatment of industrial steelworks waste, especially those from an electric arc furnace, called “flue dust,” to allow for the subsequent recovery of metals (e.g. zinc and iron) from the dust. The main purposes of the process are: (i) the opening of the crystalline webs (zinc ferrite) originally formed in the flue dust, with the simultaneous production of soluble sulfates in aqueous medium; (ii) and the destruction of possible dioxins without subsequent regeneration. The processes encompass production of salts or sulfates of the metals in the flue dust, utilizing concentrated sulfuric acid and reagents or catalysts by dry medium, at normal pressure and moderate temperatures. The processes promotes reaction of sulfuric acid with elements found in the flue dust to maintain a homogenous mixture without the presence of water, and prevent agglomeration of the particles through the addition of secondary reagents and catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Mineracao Tabipora Ltda.
    Inventor: José Roberto dos Santos
  • Publication number: 20110008235
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a method for reutilizing ionic halides in a production of an elemental material. In one embodiment, the method includes reacting a mixture of an ionic halide, at least one of: an oxide, suboxide or an oxyhalide of an element to be produced and an aqueous acid solution at moderate temperature to form a complex precursor salt and a salt, forming a precursor halide from the complex precursor salt, reducing the precursor halide into the element to be produced and the ionic halide and returning the ionic halide into the mixture of the reacting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Angel Sanjurjo, Lorenza Moro, Jordi Perez Mariano, Kai-Hung Lau, Xiaobing Xie, Anoop Nagar, Marc Hornbostel, Gopala N. Krishnan
  • Publication number: 20110005350
    Abstract: A method for recovering thallium in a cement production facility according to the present invention includes: a collecting process of collecting dust from combustion gas at a passage of the combustion gas, which is downstream of a gas outlet of a suspension preheater or a gas outlet of a demineralizer of a cement kiln of the cement production facility; a water-cleaning process of producing slurry or a water solution by cleaning the collected dust using water; and a filtering process of separating the slurry or water solution into a solid and a liquid and recovering thallium, wherein thallium is recovered from the combustion gas exhausted from the cement production facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 7867317
    Abstract: A method for recovering valuable metals contained in printed circuit boards of waste electronic machine, and more particularly, a method for liberating metal and plastic laminated in waste printed circuit boards uses an organic solvent and then separates and recovers the liberated metal components using an electrostatic separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Minderal Resources
    Inventors: Jae Chun Lee, Jae Min Yoo, Jin Ki Jeong, Manis Kumar Jha
  • Publication number: 20100294081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing and recovering copper by treating an acidic waste liquid containing copper ions such as an etching waste liquid resulting from etching a copper printed board in an etching solution of cupric chloride and a waste liquid after renewing a plating bath liquid in producing electrolytic copper foil. The present invention relates to a copper recovering method of recovering copper from a copper-containing acidic waste liquid by adding a liquid mixture of a copper-containing acidic waste liquid and an oxidizing agent to an alkaline agent solution while a pH of the alkaline agent solution to which the liquid mixture has been added is being controlled so as not to decrease to seven or lower even for a moment, and by obtaining a solid material whose main component is copper oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Toshihiro Suzuki, Kaori Sato, Yoko Kubota
  • Publication number: 20100275734
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying 68Ge/68Ga generator produced 68Ga from Fe (III). The invention further relates to an automated system within an existing Gallea Synthia prototype that provides purification 68Ga from various cations and preconcentrations of 68Ga. In general, the present invention further depicts the use of an automated system for the production of 68Ga-radiolabelled PET tracers with high specific radioactivity and a kit for purifying 68Ge/68Ga generator produced 68Ga from Fe (III).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Bengt Langstrom, Irina Velikyan
  • Publication number: 20100278705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of enriching element content in stable isotopes of light elements in ion-exchange chromatography. The process comprises development of band of light elements in a chromatographic column; elution of said band in a discontinuous basis so as to disconnect said chromatographic column at particular stage; and finally the process comprises of regeneration step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Secretary, Dept. of Atomic Energy Gov't of India Anushakti Bhavan Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Marg
    Inventors: Anand Babu Chintalachervu, Bal Krishnan Sharma, Mohanankrishnan Gopalswamy, Raj Baldev
  • Publication number: 20100263490
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide new methods of rhenium recovery. The methods can include subjecting a metal-bearing solution to an activated carbon bed, and adsorbing rhenium onto the activated carbon. The methods can also include heating a basic aqueous elution solution and eluting the rhenium from the activated carbon with the heated elution solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC.
    Inventors: Brett T. Waterman, Steve Nels Dixon, Theresa Linne Morelli, George Owusu, Stefka Todorova Ormsby
  • Publication number: 20100261939
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of preparing optionally supported, ordered intermetallic palladium gallium compounds, and the corresponding, optionally supported, intermetallic palladium gallium compounds obtainable by these methods. The present invention also pertains to the use of the optionally supported ordered intermetallic palladium gallium compounds as catalysts, such as in selective hydrogenations of alkynes, in particular ethyne, to give the corresponding alkenes. The optionally supported, ordered intermetallic palladium gallium compounds were found to be highly active and selective catalysts in the above hydrogenation reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Max-Planck Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschafften e.V.
    Inventors: Marc Armbruester, Marcus Schmidt, Kirill Kovnir, Matthias Friedrich, Karina Weinhold, Juri Grin, Robert Schloegl
  • Publication number: 20100224029
    Abstract: A method for separation and recovery of noble metals which makes it possible to isolate noble metal components efficiently by easy operation, that is, a method which comprises passing a solution of metals in hydrochloric acid prepared by treating a metal material with hydrochloric acid through the first cellulose column, eluting through development the noble metal component adsorbed on the cellulose with a hydrochloric acid/2-propanone mixture to obtain a fraction containing light platinum-group metals and a fraction containing heavy platinum-group metals and gold, separating the former fraction with the above mixture into fractions containing palladium, ruthenium and rhodium respectively, passing the fraction containing heavy platinum-group metals and gold through the second cellulose column to made them adsorbed on the cellulose, eluting them from the cellulose with a hydrochloric acid/1-butanol mixture to obtain fractions containing gold, osmium, iridium and platinum respectively, and recovering the noble
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicants: ASAKA RIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Niisawa, Kazuo Shimizu, Tadashi Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20100224837
    Abstract: A process including: (a) forming a feature comprising uncoalesced silver-containing nanoparticles; (b) heating the uncoalesced silver-containing nanoparticles to form coalesced silver-containing nanoparticles wherein the feature comprising the coalesced silver-containing nanoparticles exhibits a low electrical conductivity; and (c) subjecting the coalesced silver-containing nanoparticles to an acid-containing composition to increase the electrical conductivity of the feature by at least about 100 times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Yiliang Wu, Mahya Mokhtari
  • Publication number: 20100224030
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the removal and recovery of indium from waste waters and process streams. The process of the present invention utilizes a combination of a supported liquid membrane (SLM) and a strip dispersion to improve extraction of indium while increasing membrane stability and decreasing processing costs. This novel process selectively removes indium from the feed stream, provides the increased flexibility of aqueous strip/organic volume ratio, and produces a concentrated strip solution of indium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicants: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, SOLAR APPLIED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Ying-Ling Liu, Da-Ming Wang, Juin-Yih Lai, W.S. Winston Ho, Chung-Ching Lee, Chih-Hsieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20100193737
    Abstract: Methods for preparing nc-Ge/GeO2 composites by under reductive thermal processing conditions are described. Also described are methods of preparing freestanding nc-Ge via release from the nc-Ge/GeO2 composites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Jonathan Gordon Conn Veinot, Eric James Henderson
  • Publication number: 20100155650
    Abstract: An amidine-carboxylic acid complex in accordance with an aspect of the invention has an amidine ligand and a carboxylic acid ligand that are coordinated to one metal atom or a plurality of metal atoms of the same element. A multiple-complex-containing compound, i.e. a bridged polynuclear complex, in accordance with the aspect of the invention is formally derived from two or more such amidine-carboxylic acid complexes, linked by a polyvalent carboxylic acid ligand. The bridged polynuclear complex may be used in a production method to support metal (oxide) clusters on a porous support by impregnating these with a solution thereof, followed by drying and firing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kazushi Mashima, Masato Ohashi, Akihiro Yagyu, Hirohito Hirata
  • Publication number: 20100139457
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a method and an apparatus for recovering indium, the method and apparatus ensuring that it is unnecessary to recover indium in the form of indium hydroxide, indium can be recovered easily by a filter or the like without handling inferiors and also, the recovery rate of indium is greatly improved. The method includes immersing a precipitation-inducing metal which includes zinc and is made into the form of a solid such that any part coming into view three-dimensionally has a longitudinal length of 2.5 to 10 mm in an etching waste solution containing at least indium and ferric chloride and allowed to stand, thereby allowing indium contained in the etching waste solution to precipitate on the surface of the precipitation-inducing metal based on a difference in ionization tendency between zinc and indium, and detaching the indium precipitated on the surface of the precipitation-inducing metal to recover it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takeo Miki, Tamotsu Sugimoto, Eiichi Sahashi, Takamichi Honma, Tomoharu Maeseto
  • Patent number: 7727500
    Abstract: Disclosed are adhesive coating compositions containing a metal peroxide for producing clear colorless adhesive coatings on substrates, particularly micro particulate substrates. In one preferred embodiment the nanoparticle coatings are chemically active and function at a high level of efficiency due to the high total surface area of the micro particulate substrate. Also disclosed are coated substrates and compositions having nanoparticles bound to a substrate by the coating compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: PURETI, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20100105144
    Abstract: Task-specific onium salts, process for preparing them and use thereof for detecting and assaying metals, in particular heavy metals, in an aqueous medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Gilles MARCHAND, Faidjiba LOE MIE, Mathieu PUCHEAULT, Michel VAULTIER, Mireille BLANCHARD-DESCE
  • Patent number: 7686866
    Abstract: A process for recovering copper from chalcopyrite is disclosed. The process includes oxidising sulphur in chalcopyrite with a solution under predetermined contact conditions and thereby releasing at least part of the copper in the chalcopyrite into the solution as copper ions. The process includes a subsequent step of reducing sulphur in a solid product from step (a) to a minus two, ie. sulphide, valence state with a solution under predetermined contact conditions. The process further includes a subsequent step of oxidising sulphur in a solid product from step (b) with a solution under predetermined contact conditions and thereby releasing at least part of the remaining copper in the solid product into the solution as copper ions. The process further includes recovering copper from one or more of the solutions from steps (a) and (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Technological Resources PTY Limited
    Inventors: Raymond W. Shaw, Lucy Esdaile, Andrea R. Gerson, Joan E. Thomas, Sarah L. Harmer
  • Patent number: 7686865
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method and a system for recovering a metal, such as uranium, from a metal-containing material are disclosed. The metal-containing material is exposed to an extractant containing a liquid or supercritical-fluid solvent and an acid-base complex including an oxidizing agent and a complexing agent. Batches of the metal-containing material are moved through a series of stations while the extractant is moved through the stations in the opposite direction. After the extraction step, the metal is separated from the solvent, the complexing agent and/or other metals by exposing the extract to a stripping agent in a countercurrent stripping column. The complexing agent and the solvent exit the column and are separated from each other by reducing the pressure. The recovered complexing agent is recharged with fresh oxidizing agent and recombined with fresh or recovered solvent to form a recovered extractant, which is distributed through the extraction stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc., Areva NP, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien M. Wai, Sydney S. Koegler
  • Patent number: 7682420
    Abstract: In a method for leaching gold from copper sulfides, the sulfide ores are first subjected to leaching of copper, thereby producing a leaching residue having 7.9% or less of the copper content. This leaching residue is mixed with a leach liquor, which contains the chloride ion and ferric ion and has 1.9 or less of pH. Gold and copper can be effectively leached from the copper sulfide ores. Ordinarily used oxidizing reagents such as hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid are not used. The gold, copper and iron can, therefore, be leached in a single process and by using an identical leaching liquor. The rate of gold leaching reaction can be enhanced by the co-presence of either copper or bromide ion or both together with the chloride and iron ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Abe, Hiroshi Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20100058893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin which is a copolymer of a polystyrene and a non-styrenic polymer, wherein the non-styrenic polymer includes the following subunit: Formula (I) wherein Rb is a divalent linking group, preferably alkylene, and most preferably (—CH2—CH2—; and Rd is NH, NR, O or absent. Preferably the resin has an acrylic backbone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Clean TeQ Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Nikolai Zontov
  • Publication number: 20100043600
    Abstract: An outstandingly low environmental impact wet process recovers the lead content of an electrode slime and/or of lead minerals in the valuable form of high purity lead oxide or compound convertible to highly pure lead oxide by heat treatment in oven at relatively low temperature, perfectly suited for making active electrode pastes of new batteries or other uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Millbrook Lead Recycling Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Federica Martini
  • Publication number: 20100040938
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of recycling lead from lead containing waste, the method comprising the steps of mixing the battery paste with aqueous citric acid solution so as to generate lead citrate; isolating lead citrate from the aqueous solution; and converting the lead citrate to lead and/or lead oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE LIMITED
    Inventors: Ramachandran Vasant Kumar, Vega Petrova Kotzeva, Seref Sonmez
  • Patent number: 7658995
    Abstract: A nickel powder exhibits superior oxidation behavior, reduction behavior and sintering behavior in a production process for a multilayer ceramic capacitor and is suitable for the capacitor; a production method therefor is also provided. The nickel powder, which may be used as a raw material, is treated with a sulfur-containing compound, and the sulfur-containing compound is coated on the surface thereof, or alternatively, a nickel-sulfur compound layer is formed on the surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsugu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090277305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering rhenium from an ethylene oxide catalyst containing rhenium and at least silver on a solid support, wherein at least a substantial portion of the rhenium present in the catalyst is extracted by intimate contact of the catalyst with one or more polar non-acidic organic solvents substantially free of water such that a rhenium-containing solution is formed containing the polar non-acidic organic solvent and extracted rhenium, the polar non-acidic organic solvent containing one or more oxygen, nitrogen, and/or halogen atoms in its molecular structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: SD LIZENZVERWERTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Nabil Rizkalla, Andrzej Rokicki
  • Publication number: 20090272229
    Abstract: This invention provides chemical processes for the treatment of industrial steelworks waste, especially those from an electric arc furnace, called “flue dust,” to allow for the subsequent recovery of metals (e.g. zinc and iron) from the dust. The main purposes of the process are: (i) the opening of the crystalline webs (zinc ferrite) originally formed in the flue dust, with the simultaneous production of soluble sulfates in aqueous medium; (ii) and the destruction of possible dioxins without subsequent regeneration. The processes encompass production of salts or sulfates of the metals in the flue dust, utilizing concentrated sulfuric acid and reagents or catalysts by dry medium, at normal pressure and moderate temperatures. The processes promotes reaction of sulfuric acid with elements found in the flue dust to maintain a homogenous mixture without the presence of water, and prevent agglomeration of the particles through the addition of secondary reagents and catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Jose Roberto dos Santos
  • Publication number: 20090242231
    Abstract: A method for producing a silver nanowire including heating a silver complex in a water solvent at a temperature equal to or below the boiling point of the water solvent, and the silver nanowire produced by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Nori Miyagisima, Kenzi Naoi, Hiroyuki Hirai
  • Patent number: 7572418
    Abstract: A process for production of titanium concentrate with low contents of radionuclide elements from anatase mechanical concentrates. The process involves calcination in air and reduction with hydrogen or any other reducing gas, both in fluidized bed reactor or rotary kiln, low-intensity magnetic separation of the reduced product, high-intensity magnetic separation of the non-magnetic fraction resulting from the low-intensity magnetic separation, hydrochloric acid leaching of the product of high-intensity magnetic separation, filtering and dewatering of the leached product, high temperature oxidation of the dewatered material, cooling of the oxidized ore, hydrochloric acid leaching of the oxidation product in the presence of sodium fluoride, filtration and drying of the product of the second leaching and high intensity magnetic separation, the non-magnetic fraction of this final magnetic separation becoming the end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
    Inventors: Ronaldo De Moreira Horta, Lino Rodrigues De Freitas, João Alberto Lessa Tude
  • Publication number: 20090178513
    Abstract: Provided is a novel extractant for palladium capable of improving an extraction rate compared to the conventional extractant, DHS, and also capable of back-extracting palladium using an ammonia solution, and a method of separating and recovering palladium using the novel extractant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hirokazu Narita, Mikiya Tanaka, Ken Tamura
  • Publication number: 20090178512
    Abstract: A system which uses available waste acid process streams from hydrometallurgical extraction processes as absorption media for the direct production of leach grade acid solutions for return to the hydrometallurgical processing circuit for use in liberating metals from metal-bearing materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: EHP Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Eric H. Partelpoeg
  • Patent number: 7559970
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing metal nanoparticles and metal nanoparticles produced thereby, in particular, to a method for producing metal nanoparticles used for inkjet that comprises, preparing metal nanoparticles capped with a fatty acid; heating a mixture of the capped metal nanoparticles and a linear or branched first amine of C1-C7 so that a part of the fatty acid is substituted to the first amine; and heating after adding a linear or branched second amine of C8-C20 to the mixture so that the first amine is re-substituted to the second amine. According to the present invention, metal nanoparticles capped with 2 kinds of dispersants can be produced massively, and its application to ink for inkjet technique can lower the curing temperature of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Hoon Kim, Jae-Woo Joung, Sung-Nam Cho, Chang-Sung Park, Kwi-Jong Lee
  • Publication number: 20090165598
    Abstract: The present invention provides phosphinic acids and their sulfur derivatives, in accordance with the following formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are different and each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from an organic radical that branches at the alpha carbon and an organic radical that branches at the beta carbon, and each of X and Y is independently O or S, and wherein said compound is a liquid at room temperature. Compounds of formula (I) find utility for example as metal extractants. Also provided are methods for making compounds of formula (I) and their corresponding phosphine intermediates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Yuehui Zhou, Jeffrey Charles Henry Dyck, Boban Jakovljevic, Cyril Christian Henri Bourget, Allan James Robertson, Donato Nucciarone
  • Publication number: 20090158896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of monodisperse, macroporous chelating resins in the recovery of metals in hydrometallurgical processes, in particular in resin-in-pulp processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Duilio Rossoni, Reinhold Klipper, Bruno Hees, Rudolf Wagner, Stefan Neumann, Olaf Halle, Wolfgang Podszun, Michael Schelhaas
  • Publication number: 20090158893
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to recovery of gold from refractory and double refractory ores using a fungal agent and/or culture media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wan-Tai Yen, Richard Kwasi Amankwah, Yeonuk Choi
  • Publication number: 20090087892
    Abstract: A mutant microbe that generates trace amounts of gold on silver, and uses of the mutant microbe for producing and recovering precious metals and for producing biofuels and oil products from biomass and sedimentary organic matter are described. According to an exemplary embodiment, the mutant microbe is produced by placing metallic silver in an aqueous solution, and adding a species of Saccharomyces to the aqueous solution. When the species of Saccharomyces comes in contact with the metallic silver, at least a portion of the species of Saccharomyces transforms into the mutant microbe that interacts with the metallic silver to form a layer comprising a trace amount of nano gold particles on the metallic silver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: BIOMETAL L.L.C.
    Inventors: Joe E. Champion, Raymond Owyang
  • Publication number: 20090071296
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to flotation of refractory gold sulfide ores and to pressure oxidized residue neutralization using flotation tailings that have been contacted with an off gas of pressure oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Barrick Gold Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Hillier, Yeonuk Choi, Noelene Ahern
  • Patent number: 7501380
    Abstract: A blended composition of hydrogel polymer granules capable of selectively removing toxic dissolved metal species from water containing abundant innocuous species, and spacer particles which minimize contact between contiguous polymer granules is provided for reducing the impedance of water caused to flow through a confined bed of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventor: Norman B. Rainer
  • Publication number: 20090049954
    Abstract: The membrane electrode assemblies of fuel cells are recycled by pulverizing the membrane electrode assemblies into a powder and contacting with acid to leach precious metals. Surfactants can optionally be used to increase yield of precious metals recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: BASF CATALYSTS LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence Shore, Ramail Matlin
  • Publication number: 20080184849
    Abstract: A method for extraction a metal from a mineral ore including a refractory ore contained in a metal. The method includes concentration of refractory ore followed by micronization of the concentrate until gold is liberated by the extraction solution and mixing of micronized concentrate with concentration rejects or by-products to facilitate recovery of the treatment solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Gilles Fiset, Edmond St-Jean
  • Publication number: 20080145687
    Abstract: A method of producing titanium metal from a titanium-containing material includes the steps of producing a solution of M?TiF6 from the titanium-containing material, selectively precipitating M?2TiF6 from the solution by the addition of (M?)aXb and using the selectively precipitated M?2TiF6 to produce titanium. M? is a cation of the type which forms a hexafluorotitanate, M? is selected from ammonium and the alkali metal cations, X is an anion selected from halide, sulphate, nitrite, acetate and nitrate and a and b are 1 or 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Gerard Pretorius
  • Patent number: 7268273
    Abstract: The invention relates to recovering metals, such as nickel and cobalt, by phytomining or phytoextracting soils rich in metals wherein the desired metal is selectively accumulated in hyperaccumulator plants by adjusting the soil pH. The metals are ultimately recovered from above-ground plant tissues at economically acceptable levels without further contaminating the metal-containing sites. The invention also relates to metal-hyperaccumulating plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignees: The University of Maryland, The University of Sheffield, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Rufus L. Chaney, J. Scott Angle, Yin-Ming Li, Alan J. M. Baker
  • Patent number: 7214516
    Abstract: The invention includes methods for (1) extracting metals from soil by the use of plants that extract and accumulate the metal and adding bacteria to the soil that enhances the ability of the plants to extract the metal, and (2) preparing soil for extraction of a metal by plants by adding bacteria to the soil that enhances the ability of plants to extract the metal. It is preferred that the plants be planted in the soil as seeds and that the bacteria added to the soil is also added to the seeds prior to planting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Jay Scott Angle, Rufus L. Chaney, Reda Abdelaziz Abou-Shanab, Peter Van Berkum
  • Patent number: 7163570
    Abstract: A chromatographic separation method separates ruthenium from other platinum group metals in a feed solution, by converting the Ru to a nitrosyl complex, retaining the nitrosyl complex temporarily on the chromatography column and subsequently eluting Ru, for example using an oxidising or reducing eluent. FIG. 1 shows the elution profile obtained from a mixture of Rh chloro-complexes (Peak 1) and Ru nitrosyl species (Peak 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Richard Alasdair Grant
  • Patent number: 7078122
    Abstract: A process for rendering hazardous materials present in multi-element waste non-hazardous, and for recovering valuable components of said waste, particularly metals, comprising contacting the waste with an aqueous solution of HX, wherein X is halogen, thereby converting metals present in the waste to the corresponding halides, and subsequently separating said metal halides from other components of the reaction mixture and from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Ariel Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 7069690
    Abstract: Processes and materials for phytoremediating water-containing sites which have been contaminated with pollutants such as arsenic, phosphorous, or other metals. Fern plants can be used to accumulate pollutants from contaminated water-containing sites having an aqueous solution, waste water, ground water, surface water, combinations thereof, and combinations of water-containing sites with soils and/or sediments. The fern plants remove pollutants from the water-containing sites, and can be harvested and readily disposed of, or can be treated to recover the pollutant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Lena Q. Ma, Cong Tu
  • Patent number: 7066982
    Abstract: Processes, methods, materials and compositions for phytoremediating contaminated waters, which have been contaminated with pollutants such as arsenic, phosphorous, or other metals. Fern plants can be used to accumulate pollutants from contaminated water, including aqueous solution, waste water, ground water, surface water, combinations thereof. Pollutants and contaminants can be removed from the water, soil and wetland type environment via foliar application, excised leaflets, and/or through compositions of ground leaflets. The biomass can be harvested and readily disposed of, or can be treated to recover the pollutants and contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Lena Q. Ma, Mike Shuxin Tu, Abioye O. Fayiga
  • Patent number: 7065920
    Abstract: Processes, methods, materials and compositions for phytoremediating contaminated waters, which have been contaminated with pollutants such as arsenic. Fern plants that include Pteris and non-Pteris fern plants can be used to accumulate pollutants from contaminated water, including aqueous solution, waste water, ground water, surface water, combinations thereof. Pollutants and contaminants can be removed from the water, soil and wetland type environment via phytoremediation through roots and fronds as well as by applying excised portions of plants such as leaflets (cut-off fronds). The biomass can be harvested and readily disposed of, or can be treated to recover the pollutants and contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Lena Q. Ma, Thomas Luongo, Mrittunjai Srivastava, Nandita Singh
  • Patent number: 7049492
    Abstract: A cadmium and zinc hyperaccumulating subspecies from Thlaspi caerulescense and methods for removing or recovering cadmium and zinc from soils by cultivating the Thlaspi caerulescense subspecies on soils containing cadmium and zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Massey University, University of Maryland, University of Sheffield
    Inventors: Yin-Ming Li, Rufus L. Chaney, Roger D. Reeves, J. Scott Angle, Alan J. M. Baker
  • Patent number: 7044995
    Abstract: A process for preparing a pure PGM (platinum group metal) from a material containing a plurality of PGM compounds, wherein the PGM is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh and Re, and the process includes initially forming the PGM in activated form by reduction of PGM ions in aqueous solution at pH 6–8 by a reducing agent, preferably, hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: PGM Refining Inc.
    Inventors: Kamran M. Khozan, Dmitri S. Terekhov, Victor E. Nanthakumar, Sergiy Kovtun