US4402735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treating deep sea nodules by segregation roasting
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1982-05-20
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Granted: 1983-09-06
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Expires: 2002-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A process for recovering nonferrous nickel, copper and cobalt from deep sea nodules to obtain a concentrate rich in the nonferrous metals, a middlings less concentrated in the nonferrous metals and a tailings with a very low concentration of the nonferrous metals. The crushed nodules are mixed with middlings, a carbonaceous reductant and a chlorinating agent which is a mixture of sodium chloride with either calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide. In a non-oxidizing atmosphere, the mixture is roasted at a temperature about 850° C. and then cooled. The roasted material is finely ground, slurried and magnetically separated into the three fractions.
Inventors
- 👤 Tage L. B. Jepsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:35
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B47/00; C22B47/0018; C22B47/0036; C22B47/009; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A process for recovering a concentrate upgraded in the content of at least one nonferrous metal value selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and cobalt from deep sea nodules comprising the steps of: a. producing a feed material comprising mixing: i. 100 parts by weight of said nodules; ii. 40 to 60 parts by weight of middlings as defined in step (f) (ii); iii. 30 to 60 parts by weight of a chloridizing agent comprising a mixture of sodium chloride and a calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide in the ratio of about 1 mole of calcium compound to 2 moles of sodium chloride; and iv. 2 to 10 parts by weight of a carbonaceous reductant; b. roasting said feed material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere wherein said feed material is heated to a temperature above 850° C.; c. cooling said roasted material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; d. grinding said cooled roasted material to at least minus 270 mesh; e. forming a slurry of said ground material; and f. separating from said slurry by magnetic separation: i. a material having relatively high magnetic properties and concentrated in said non-ferrous metal values; ii. a middlings material having lower magnetic properties and less concentrated in said non-ferrous metal values; and iii. a non-magnetic tailings material low in said nonferrous metal values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A process for recovering a concentrate upgraded in the content of at least one nonferrous metal value selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and cobalt from deep sea nodules comprising the steps of: a. producing a feed material comprising mixing: i. 100 parts by weight of said nodules; ii. 40 to 60 parts by weight of middlings as defined in step (f) (ii); iii. 30 to 60 parts by weight of a chloridizing agent comprising a mixture of sodium chloride and a calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide in the ratio of about 1 mole of calcium compound to 2 moles of sodium chloride; and iv. 2 to 10 parts by weight of a carbonaceous reductant; b. roasting said feed material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere wherein said feed material is heated to a temperature above 850° C.; c. cooling said roasted material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; d. grinding said cooled roasted material to at least minus 270 mesh; e. forming a slurry of said ground material; and f. separating from said slurry by magnetic separation: i. a material having relatively high magnetic properties and concentrated in said non-ferrous metal values; ii. a middlings material having lower magnetic properties and less concentrated in said non-ferrous metal values; and iii. a non-magnetic tailings material low in said nonferrous metal values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said material in roasting step (b) is held at said temperature for 45 to 75 minutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said material in step (d) is ground to about 100% minus 500 mesh.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-05 | 1987-03-07 | 1987-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-05 | 1991-03-07 | 1991-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-05 | 1995-03-07 | 1995-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |