Patent US4029733A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4029733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extraction of metals from sea nodules
Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
•
Filing: 1975-02-11
•
Granted: 1977-06-14
•
Expires: 1995-02-11
Abstract
Abstract The method comprises the steps of crushing of the ore, neutralization by a mixture of water and sulphuric acid, introduction of a controlled quantity of sulphur dioxide gas at a pH value between 1.5 and 4 for promoting dissolution of nickel, copper and a desired quantity of manganese, leaching of the ore with sulphuric acid at a pH value between 1 and 3 for selectively dissolving the nickel and copper, separation of the solid and liquid phases, and separation of the metals contained in the liquid phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Faugeras
- 👤 Pierre Miquel
- 👤 Michele Robaglia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:08
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/04; C22B3/06; C22B3/08; C22B47/00; C22B47/0018; C22B47/0045; C22B47/0054; C22B47/0063; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for extraction of metals from manganiferous sea nodules, wherein said method comprises the steps of: a. crushing of the ore; b. mixing the crushed ore with a first sulphuric acid solution to form a pulp; c. neutralizing the pulp by contact with a second sulphuric acid solution to adjust the pH of the pulp to 2 to 4, leaving substantially all the metals dissolved in the ore; d. introducing a controlled quantity of sulphur dioxide gas corresponding to the stoichiometry of the reaction of sulphation of manganese dioxide by sulphur dioxide at a pH value within the range of 1.5 to 4 with agitation in order to break down the structure of the neutralized ore and promote subsequent dissolution of the metals including the desired quantity of manganese; e. leaching the ore with sulphuric acid at a pH value within the range of 1 to 3; f. separating the solid and liquid phases; and g. separating the metals contained in the liquid phase.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for extraction of metals from manganiferous sea nodules, wherein said method comprises the steps of: a. crushing of the ore; b. mixing the crushed ore with a first sulphuric acid solution to form a pulp; c. neutralizing the pulp by contact with a second sulphuric acid solution to adjust the pH of the pulp to 2 to 4, leaving substantially all the metals dissolved in the ore; d. introducing a controlled quantity of sulphur dioxide gas corresponding to the stoichiometry of the reaction of sulphation of manganese dioxide by sulphur dioxide at a pH value within the range of 1.5 to 4 with agitation in order to break down the structure of the neutralized ore and promote subsequent dissolution of the metals including the desired quantity of manganese; e. leaching the ore with sulphuric acid at a pH value within the range of 1 to 3; f. separating the solid and liquid phases; and g. separating the metals contained in the liquid phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of extraction according to claim 1, wherein the sulphuric acid leaching process is carried out with sulphuric acid having a pH value within the range of 1.5 to 2 at a temperature within the range of 35° to 90° C for a period of 2 to 12 hours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of extraction according to claim 1, wherein the solution obtained on completion of step (e) is contacted with a β-alkenyl-8-hydroxyquinoline or a hydroxy-substituted oxime liquid ion exchanger to extract copper and subsequently stripping the copper from the liquid ion exchanger by contacting with a solution of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid derived from the electrolysis of copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method of extraction according to claim 3 wherein the liquid discharged from the exchanger and no longer containing copper receives an addition of lime between 50° and 60° C at a pH equal to 3.3 in order to produce partial precipitation of iron, gallium, aluminum, chromium and is then contacted with a solvent containing 20% Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid, 5% tributyl phosphate and 75% of an aromatic solvent in order to extract the remaining iron and aluminum as well as the zinc, the rare earths and the other impurities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of extraction according to claim 4, wherein the liquid derived from the solvent extraction process is extracted with a mixture containing a hydroxy-substituted oxime or a β-alkenyl-8-hydroxyquinoline and a naphthenic carboxylic acid to extract cobalt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of extraction according to claim 5, wherein said method consists in contacting the liquid freed from cobalt having a pH value equal to 4 with a β-alkenyl-8-hydroxyquinoline or a hydroxy-substituted oxime to extract the nickel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of extraction according to claim 6, wherein said method consists in oxidizing the liquid freed from nickel having a pH value equal to 8.5 in order to separate the manganese in the form of a precipitate of MnO 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of extraction of claim 1 wherein the pH of the second sulphuric acid solution added for neutralization is about 2.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2340188A
Cited
US2584700A
Cited
US3106451A
Cited
US3402042A
Cited
US3514266A
Cited
US3479378A
Cited
US3666446A
Cited
US3810827A
Cited
US3795596A
Cited
US3923615A
Cited
US3812232A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-13 | 1980-12-13 | 1981-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-13 | 1984-12-13 | 1985-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-13 | 1988-12-13 | 1989-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |