US4752332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treating manganese-containing ores with a metal sulfide
Assignee: Ensci Inc
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Filing: 1986-04-30
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Granted: 1988-06-21
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Expires: 2006-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A process for treating a first metal, manganese-containing ore comprising contacting the manganese-containing ore with an aqueous, acidic composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce at least a portion of the manganese, (2) solubilize at least a portion of the metal from the metal sulfide, and (3) at least partially liberate the first metal from the ore; and recovering the first metal from the ore. The use of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and/or added ferric ion in the contacting step are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Rebekah Wu
- 👤 Larry B. Tsai
- 👤 Barbara A. Krebs-Yuill
- 👤 David A. Milligan
- 👤 Nestor J. Troncoso
- 👤 John S. McBride
- 👤 Albert T. Knecht
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:44
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/18; C22B11/00; C22B11/04; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/04; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A process for recovering silver from an ore containing manganese comprising: contacting said ore with an aqueous, acidic composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide in the presence of ferric ion at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce manganese, (2) solubilize metal from said metal sulfide in said acidic, aqueous composition, and (3) liberate silver from said ore; and recovering silver from said ore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process for recovering silver from an ore containing manganese comprising: contacting said ore with an aqueous, acidic composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide in the presence of ferric ion at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce manganese, (2) solubilize metal from said metal sulfide in said acidic, aqueous composition, and (3) liberate silver from said ore; and recovering silver from said ore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of added ferric ion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said sulfide is iron pyrites.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said material further includes at least one second metal selected from the group consisting of gold, the platinum group metals and mixtures thereof; said contacting occurs at conditions effective to liberate second metal from said material; and said process further comprises recovering said second metal from said material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said second metal is gold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the pH of said aqueous, acidic composition is in the range of about 0.5 to about 5.0 and said aqueous, acidic composition contains sulfuric acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said sulfide has a formula of (Me)y Sx wherein x is greater than y and Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mo, As, Cu, Co, Ni, Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Zn and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said sulfide includes at least one sulfur to sulfur bond.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said ore and said material are agglomerated and the resulting agglomerates are placed to form a first heap which is contacted with said aqueous, acidic composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of said aqueous, acidic composition is in the range of about 0.5 to about 5.0 and said aqueous, acidic composition contains sulfuric acid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said sulfide has a formula of (Me)y Sx wherein x is greater than y and Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mo, As, Cu, Co, Ni, Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Zn and mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said sulfide includes at least one sulfur to sulfur bond.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein asid contacting occurs in presence of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said material further includes at least one second metal selected from the group consisting of gold, the platinum group metals and mixtures thereof; said contacting occurs at conditions effective to liberate second metal from said material; and said process further comprises recovering said second metal from said material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said second metal is gold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said ore and said material are agglomerated and the resulting agglomerates are placed to form a first heap which is contacted with said aqueous, acidic composition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said agglomerates after said contacting are reagglomerated and placed on a second heap which is contacted with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize silver from said ore.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said agglomerates after said contacting are reagglomerated and placed on a second heap which is contacted with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize silver from said ore.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said sulfide has a formula of (Me)y Sx wherein x is greater than y and Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mo, As, Cu, Co, Ni, Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Zn and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said sulfide includes at least one sulfur to sulfur bond.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said sulfide includes at least one sulfur to sulfur bond.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for recovering silver from an ore containing manganese comprising: contacting said ore with an aqueous, acidic composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide in the presence of ferric ion at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce manganese, (2) solubilize metal from said metal sulfide in said aqueous, acidic composition, and (3) liberate silver from said ore, provided that said contacting occurs in the presence of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans; and recovering silver from said ore.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for recovering silver from an ore containing manganese comprising: contacting said ore with an aqueous, acidic composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide in the presence of ferric ion at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce manganese, (2) solubilize metal from said metal sulfide in said aqueous, acidic composition, and (3) liberate silver from said ore, provided that said contacting occurs in the presence of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans; and recovering silver from said ore.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said metal sulfide is iron sulfide and said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 24 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of added ferric ion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 30 wherein the pH of said aqueous, acidic composition is in the range of about 3.0 and lower and said aqueous, acidic composition contains sulfuric acid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of added ferric ion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 32 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 28 wherein the pH of said aqueous, acidic composition is in the range of about 1.5 to about 4.5.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 28 wherein the pH of said aqeous, acidic composition is in the range of about 3.0 and lower and said aqueous, acidic composition contains sulfuric acid.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said material further includes at least one second metal selected from the group consisting of gold, the platinum group metals and mixtures thereof; said contacting occurs at conditions effective to liberate second metal from said material; and said process further comprises recovering said second metal from said material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said ore, said material and said Thiobacillus ferrooxidans are agglomerated and the resulting agglomerates are placed to form a first heap which is contacted with said aqueous, acidic composition.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 37 wherein said agglomerates after said contacting are reagglomerated and placed on a second heap which is contacted with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize silver from said ore.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said sulfide includes at least one sulfur to sulfur bond.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 39 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of oxygen.
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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) | 1991-06-21 | 1991-12-21 | 1992-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-21 | 1995-12-21 | 1996-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-21 | 1999-12-21 | 2000-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |