US4642134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Precious metal recovery using UV ozone
Assignee: GSP METALS & CHEMICALS Corp 2535 E 28TH STREET LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90058 A CORP OF CA
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Filing: 1985-10-08
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2005-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for recovering precious metals from ore is disclosed. Ore is treated in an acidic slurry with an activated oxygen mixture obtained from an ultraviolet light ozone generator. The activated oxygen frees chemically bonded precious metals creating an expanded, hydrated ore so that the metals may be oxidized and leached out using standard leaching techniques. In addition, the activated oxygen aids in the leaching process. Substantial increases in the amount of precious metal recovered from a given amount of ore result.
Inventors
- 👤 William P. Van Antwerp
- 👤 Phillip A. Lincoln
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:30
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B11/00; C22B11/04; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/44; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A process for recovering precious metal from ore comprising the steps of: (a) treating an acidic slurry of ore with activated oxygen; and subsequently (b) leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals wherein the activated oxygen is obtained as the product of an ultraviolet light ozone generator and wherein the activated oxygen is composed of at least ozone and hydroxyl.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A process for recovering precious metal from ore comprising the steps of: (a) treating an acidic slurry of ore with activated oxygen; and subsequently (b) leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals wherein the activated oxygen is obtained as the product of an ultraviolet light ozone generator and wherein the activated oxygen is composed of at least ozone and hydroxyl.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the precious metal recovered is from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, iridium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and ruthenium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry of ore is acidified using hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, or a mineral acid selected from nitric, sulfuric, phosphoric, or hydrofluoric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry of ore is acidified using acetic acid in the range of 1-3% by volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of a maximum of 70% ozone, a minimum of 20% hydroxyl, and a minimum of 5% each of atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide HO 2 and higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of about 40% ozone, 40% hydroxyl, and 5% each of atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide HO 2 , and higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of a maximum of 70% ozone, with the remaining amount consisting of hydroxyl, atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide HO 2 , and the higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of at least ozone and hydroxyl, and it has an oxidation potential higher than 2.0 V.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the acidic slurry of ore is treated with activated oxygen by sparging said activated oxygen through the slurry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the activated oxygen is sparged through the slurry at a rate sufficient to keep the slurry solution saturated with activated oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet light ozone generator operates at a wavelength less than 200 nanometers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet light ozone generator operates such that a gas being processed in the generator will have a residence time of at least 90 seconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet light ozone generator operates such that a gas being processed in the generator will have a residence time of about 3 minutes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the acidic slurry of ore is at a pH of 3.0 or less.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 1 wherein, prior to leaching precious metal out, the treated slurry of ore is made basic by adding lime (CaCO 3 ) until the pH of the slurry is 7.0 and then adding caustic soda (NaOH) until the pH of the slurry is at least 11.0.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the leaching step is carried out at a temperature between 150° F. and 200° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the leaching step is carried out at a temperature of about 180° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the leaching chemicals are chosen from the group comprising cyanide, hypochlorite, ferrous/hypochlorite, thiourea, and thiocarbamate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the leaching step carried out at a temperature between 150° F. and 200° F. takes between 4 and 6 hours.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the step of leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals further comprises the steps of (a) raising the pH of the slurry of ore to a pH of 11.0 or higher; (b) raising the temperature of the slurry from 150° F. to 200° F.; (c) adding leaching chemicals; (d) allowing the slurry to react for at least 4 hours; (e) letting the remaining ore settle to leave a solution; and (f) recovering the precious metal from the solution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry is constantly treated with activated oxygen until the step of letting the ore settle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the size of more than a third of the precious metal recovered is 5 microns or less.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for recovering gold from ore comprising the steps of: (a) sparging activated oxygen through an acidic slurry of the ore; (b) raising the pH level of the slurry to make it basic; (c) adding leaching chemicals; (d) raising the temperature of the slurry to at least 150° F.; (e) allowing the slurry to react while still sparging activated oxygen through it for at least 4 hours; (f) shutting off the activated oxygen and allowing the remaining ore to settle and leave a solution; and (g) recovering the gold from the solution wherein the activated oxygen comprises at least ozone and hydroxyl.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for recovering gold from ore comprising the steps of: (a) sparging activated oxygen through an acidic slurry of the ore; (b) raising the pH level of the slurry to make it basic; (c) adding leaching chemicals; (d) raising the temperature of the slurry to at least 150° F.; (e) allowing the slurry to react while still sparging activated oxygen through it for at least 4 hours; (f) shutting off the activated oxygen and allowing the remaining ore to settle and leave a solution; and (g) recovering the gold from the solution wherein the activated oxygen comprises at least ozone and hydroxyl.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of a minimum of 20% hydroxyl and additionally ozone, with the remaining amount consisting of any combination of, atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide, and the higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of a maximum of 70% ozone and additionally hydroxyl, with the remaining amount consisting of any combination of, atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide, and the higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the slurry of ore is acidified using hydrochloric acid, acetic acid or a mineral acid selected from nitric, sulfuric, phosphoric, or hydrofluoric acid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the activated oxygen is composed of a maximum of 70% ozone and additionally hydroxyl, with the remaining amount consisting of any combination of, atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide, and the higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the activated oxygen has an oxidation potential higher than 2.0 V.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process for recovering precious metal from ore comprising the steps of: (a) treating an acidic slurry of ore with activated oxygen composed of at least ozone; and subsequently (b) leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals wherein the activated oxygen has an oxidation potential higher than 2.0 V and is obtained as the product of an ultraviolet light ozone generator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process for recovering precious metal from ore comprising the steps of: (a) treating an acidic slurry of ore with activated oxygen composed of at least ozone; and subsequently (b) leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals wherein the activated oxygen has an oxidation potential higher than 2.0 V and is obtained as the product of an ultraviolet light ozone generator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for recovering gold, silver, platinum, irridium, palladium, osmium, or ruthenium from ore comprising the steps of: (a) acidifying a slurry of ore using hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, or a mineral acid selected from nitric, sulfuric, phosphoric, or hydrofluoric acid; (b) treating the acidified slurry of ore with activated oxygen; and subsequently (c) leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals wherein the activated oxygen is obtained by using an ultraviolet light ozone generator and is composed of substantially 40% ozone, 40% hydroxyl, and 5% each of the atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide, and higher molecular weight peroxides.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for recovering gold, silver, platinum, irridium, palladium, osmium, or ruthenium from ore comprising the steps of: (a) acidifying a slurry of ore using hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, or a mineral acid selected from nitric, sulfuric, phosphoric, or hydrofluoric acid; (b) treating the acidified slurry of ore with activated oxygen; and subsequently (c) leaching precious metal out with leaching chemicals wherein the activated oxygen is obtained by using an ultraviolet light ozone generator and is composed of substantially 40% ozone, 40% hydroxyl, and 5% each of the atomic oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen dioxide, and higher molecular weight peroxides.
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) | 1990-02-09 | 1990-08-11 | 1991-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-09 | 1994-08-11 | 1995-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | 1999-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |