US3773635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processing of manganese nodules from the ocean floor for metal values
Assignee: Deepsea Ventures Inc
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Filing: 1971-09-29
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-09-29
Abstract
Abstract Method for recovering metal values from ocean floor nodules of the type containing iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, and nickel comprising grinding the nodules into particles, chlorinating to obtain vaporized metal chlorides and oxides of carbon or water as reaction products, condensing the metal chloride reaction products, converting the iron chloride to iron oxide while leaching the remaining reaction products with water, separating the metal chlorides by liquid ion exchange, and recovering metal values by electrolyzing. The process is distinguished in its capability of condensing the metal chloride products in fractions.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kane
- 👤 P Cardwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:49
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B23/00; C22B23/04; C22B1/00; C22B1/02; C22B1/08; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/26; C22B3/30; C22B3/36; C22B3/362; C22B3/364; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the nodules, coal and chlorine are contacted at a temperature in the range of from 700* to 1,100* C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
2 words
iron chloride
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
2 words
iron chloride
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
2 words
Iron chloride
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
2 words
Nickel Chloride
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
2 words
nickel chloride
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
2 words
nickel chloride
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method according to claim 2 wherein the nodules, chlorine and coal are contacted at a temperature in the range of from 800* to 1,000*C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the mixed nodules chlorine and coal is varied so as to separately vaporize desired fractions of metal chlorides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
3 words
cobalt chloride and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
3 words
cobalt chloride and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
2 words
Cobalt Chloride
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
3 words
copper chloride; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
Copper Chloride B. separating said reaction products from the reacted ore, condensing the vaporized reaction products and contacting the reaction products with water vapor so as to convert iron chloride to iron oxide; C. leaching the condensed chloride reaction pruducts with water to form a pregnant leach solution; D. separating the pregnant leach solution from any solid residue, comprising iron oxide; E. contacting the pregnant leach liquor with a liquid ion exchange reagent selective for one of the metals so as to extract said metal into the exchange reagent leaving a raffinate solution then stripping said isolated metal into an aqueous solution from said exchange reagent; and F. cathodically electroplating said isolated metal into solution so as to win said isolated metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
3 words
copper chloride; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method of processing ocean floor nodules for metal values as in claim 1, wherein said condensing is in fractions substantially as follows: i. manganese chloride; ii. nickel chloride, cobalt chlorides, and some manganese chloride; iii. iron chloride and copper chloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein the manganese chloride is cathodically electroplated so as to win manganese metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
oxides of carbon; B. separating said chloride reaction products from any solid residue and condensing the chloride reaction products; C. contacting the chloride reaction products with water vapor so as to convert iron chloride to iron oxide; D. leaching the reaction products with water so as to obtain a pregnant leach liquor and separating the pregnant leach liquor from iron and other solid residues; F. contacting the pregnant leach liquor with a liquid ion exchange reagent selective for one of the metals so as to extract said metal into the exchange reagent leaving a raffinate solution, then stripping said isolated metal into an aqueous solution from said exchange reagent; and G. cathodically electroplating isolated metal in solution so as to win said isolated metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
oxides of carbon; B. separating the vaporized reaction products from the reacted ore,condensing the vaporized chloride reaction products and contacting the reaction products with oxygen to convert iron chloride to iron oxide and chlorine; C. leaching the condensed reaction products with water to form a pregnant leach liquor and separating the leach liquor from insoluble solid residue comprising the iron oxide; D. contacting the pregnant leach liquor with a liquid ion exchange reagent selective for one of the metals so as to extract said metal into the exchange reagent leaving a raffinate solution and then stripping said isolated metal into an aqueous solution from said exchange reagent; and E. cathodically electroplating said isolated metal in solution so as to win said isolated metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method of processing ocean floor nodules for metal values as in claim 1, wherein said condensing is in fractions substantially as follows: i. manganese chloride; and ii. mixtures of other metal chlorides, including some manganese chloride.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of processing ocean floor nodules for metal values as in claim 1, wherein said condensing is in fractions substantially as follows: i. iron chloride; and ii. mixtures of other metal chlorides.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method of processing ocean floor nodules for metal values as in claim 1, wherein said heating is at various levels so as to vaporize said reaction products in fractions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method of recovering metal values from ocean floor nodules comprising A. contacting said nodules with coal and chlorine at elevated temperatures so as to form as vaporized chloride reaction products
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method according to claim 10 wherein the nodules,coal and chlorine are initially heated to a temperature from about 400* to about 550*C. so as to vaporize a fraction comprising iron chloride and copper chloride as principal components and small amounts of nickel, cobalt and manganese.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
Method of processing ocean floor nodules for metal values as in claim 11, including first sequential heating in the range 550* to 800* C., so as to vaporize the remainder of the nickel and cobalt chlorides together with 30 to 60 percent manganese chloride.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of processing ocean floor nodules for metal values, as in claim 12, including second sequential heating in the range 800* to 1,000* C., so as to vaporize the remaining manganese chloride.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method of recovering metal values from ocean floor nodules comprising: A. contacting nodules with hydrogen chloride vapor at elevated temperatures so as to form as vaporized reaction products
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |