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US4543169A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Gold recovery process

Assignee: Rai Research Corp
•
Filing: 1983-08-31
•
Granted: 1985-09-24
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Expires: 2003-08-31
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Abstract

Abstract A method is described for precious metal recovery from acidic precious metal-cyanide solutions by means of a weakly-basic anion-exchange material comprising a polymeric felt incorporating radiation-grafted pyridinyl functional groups.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vincent F. D'Agostino
  • 👤 Joseph Y. Lee
  • 👤 Stephen Zapisek
  • 👤 George Schore

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 07:03
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C1/00; C01; C01G; C01G11/00; C01G11/003; C01G15/00; C01G15/003; C01G3/00; C01G3/003; C01G5/00; C01G5/003; C01G55/00; C01G55/001; C01G7/00; C01G7/003; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/42; C25C1/20; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 62 words
A method of metal recovery comprising; (a) forming a weakly-basic anion-exchange material by radiation-grafting monomers comprising pyridinyl functional groups to a polymeric felt substrate to the extent of 10-1500%; and (b) contacting the anion-exchange material with an acidic aqueous solution comprising metal-cyanide anions so as to form a complex between the anions and the pyridinyl groups, thereby removing the anions from solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 62 words
A method of metal recovery comprising; (a) forming a weakly-basic anion-exchange material by radiation-grafting monomers comprising pyridinyl functional groups to a polymeric felt substrate to the extent of 10-1500%; and (b) contacting the anion-exchange material with an acidic aqueous solution comprising metal-cyanide anions so as to form a complex between the anions and the pyridinyl groups, thereby removing the anions from solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (a) decomplexing said metal cyanide anions by contacting the ion-exchange material with an aqueous base; and (b) recovering the metal from the aqueous base by electrodeposition.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 24 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, palladium, cadmium and indium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the metal is gold and the precious metal-cyanide anions comprise gold dicyanide anions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 25 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein the monomer comprises 2-vinyl pyridine or 4-vinyl pyridine and the polymeric felt comprises a nonwoven polypropylene felt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the aqueous base comprises sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 64 words
A method of gold recovery comprising: (a) forming a weakly-basic anion-exchange material by radiation-grafting 2-vinyl pyridine or 4-vinyl pyridine to a polymeric felt substrate to the extent of 100-1000%; and (b) contacting the resin with an acidic aqueous solution comprising potassium gold dicyanide so as to form a complex between the pyridine groups and the gold dicyanide anions, thereby removing the anions from solution.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 64 words
A method of gold recovery comprising: (a) forming a weakly-basic anion-exchange material by radiation-grafting 2-vinyl pyridine or 4-vinyl pyridine to a polymeric felt substrate to the extent of 100-1000%; and (b) contacting the resin with an acidic aqueous solution comprising potassium gold dicyanide so as to form a complex between the pyridine groups and the gold dicyanide anions, thereby removing the anions from solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: (a) decomplexing the anion complex by contacting the ion-exchange material with an aqueous solution of potassium or sodium hydroxide; and (b) removing the gold from the aqueous base by electrodeposition.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 16 words
The method of claims 7 or 8 wherein the polymeric felt comprises a nonwoven polypropylene felt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the aqueous solution of potassium or sodium hydroxide is heated to about 100°-180° F. prior to being contacted with the ion-exchange material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 62 words
A method of precious metal recovery comprising: contacting a weakly basic anionic exchange material with an acidic aqueous solution comprising metal-cyanide anions so as to form a complex between the anions and the material, thereby removing the anions from the solution; said material comprising a polymeric felt substrate radiation-grafted to the extent of 10-1500% with a monomer comprising a pyridinyl functional group.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 62 words
A method of precious metal recovery comprising: contacting a weakly basic anionic exchange material with an acidic aqueous solution comprising metal-cyanide anions so as to form a complex between the anions and the material, thereby removing the anions from the solution; said material comprising a polymeric felt substrate radiation-grafted to the extent of 10-1500% with a monomer comprising a pyridinyl functional group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: (a) decomplexing the complex by contacting the anion-exchange material with an aqueous base; and (b) recovering the metal from the aqueous base by electrodepositon.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 21 words
The method of claims 11 or 12 wherein the metal is gold and the precious metal-cyanide anions comprise gold dicyanide anions.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 25 words
The method of claims 11 or 12 wherein the monomer comprises 2-vinyl pyridine or 4-vinyl pyridine and the polymeric felt comprises a nonwoven polypropylene felt.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the aqueous base comprises sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 26 words
The method of claims 11 or 12 wherein the felt substrate comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and cellulosics.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4230549A Cited
US4321145A Cited
US4267159A Cited
US4339473A Cited
US4372830A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-09-23 1989-03-25 1989-09-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-09-23 1993-03-25 1993-09-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-09-23 1997-03-25 1997-09-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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