US4801329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal value recovery from carbonaceous ores
Assignee: Ensci Inc
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Filing: 1987-03-12
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Granted: 1989-01-31
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Expires: 2007-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A process for recovering a first metal, e.g., gold, from a carbonaceous ore comprising contacting the ore with an added metal component other than an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of carbonaceous material in the ore, the contacting occurring at conditions effective to (1) chemically oxidize at least a portion of the carbonaceous material, and (2) at least partially liberate the first metal from the ore; and recovering the first metal from the ore.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Clough
- 👤 John W. Sibert
- 👤 Arthur C. Riese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:41
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B5/00; C22B5/02; C22B5/04; C22B11/00; C22B11/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A process for recovering at least one first metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, the platinum group metals and mixtures thereof from an ore containing carbonaceous material comprising: contacting said ore with at least one component including an added metal in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material and at least one oxidant in an amount effective to provide at least one of the following: (A) form said component including said added metal, (B) regenerate said component including said added metal, and (C) oxidize said carbonaceous material, said contacting occurring in the presence of an aqueous medium at conditions effective to (1) chemically oxidize said carbonaceous material and (2) liberate said first metal from said ore, said component including said added metal being selected from the group consisting of iron complexes with ligands in which iron is present in an amount in the 3+ oxidation state effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, copper complexes with ligands in which copper is present in an amount in the 2+ oxidation state effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, vanadium components in which vanadium is present in the 5+ oxidation state in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, manganese complexes with ligands in which manganese is present in the 3+ oxidation state in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, and mixtures thereof; and recovering said first metal from said ore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A process for recovering at least one first metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, the platinum group metals and mixtures thereof from an ore containing carbonaceous material comprising: contacting said ore with at least one component including an added metal in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material and at least one oxidant in an amount effective to provide at least one of the following: (A) form said component including said added metal, (B) regenerate said component including said added metal, and (C) oxidize said carbonaceous material, said contacting occurring in the presence of an aqueous medium at conditions effective to (1) chemically oxidize said carbonaceous material and (2) liberate said first metal from said ore, said component including said added metal being selected from the group consisting of iron complexes with ligands in which iron is present in an amount in the 3+ oxidation state effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, copper complexes with ligands in which copper is present in an amount in the 2+ oxidation state effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, vanadium components in which vanadium is present in the 5+ oxidation state in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, manganese complexes with ligands in which manganese is present in the 3+ oxidation state in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, and mixtures thereof; and recovering said first metal from said ore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said component including said added metal is selected from the group consisting of iron complexes with ligands, copper complexes with ligands and mixtures thereof, and said contacting takes place at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 140° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said component including said added metal is selected from the group consisting of vanadium components in which vanadium is present in the 5+ oxidation state in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, manganese complexes with ligands in which manganese is present in the 3+ oxidation state in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of said carbonaceous material in said ore, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of said component including said added metal present during said contacting is less than about 2%, based on the amount of said ore present.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said first metal is gold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of about 1 to about 10.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said aqueous medium has a pH in the range of about 1 to about 10.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous medium has a pH in the range of about 2 to about 8.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of an aqueous medium having a pH is the range of about 2 to about 8.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, ozone, oxidant components containing oxygen and at least one second metal, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said second metal is selected from the group consisting of transition metals, rare earth metals and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said additional oxidant is molecular oxygen, oxidant components containing oxygen and at least one second metal, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said additional oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxidant components containing oxygen and at least one second metal, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said second metal is manganese.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said manganese is in the 4+ oxidation state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said oxidant component is manganese dioxide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said oxidant component is manganese dioxide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said vanadium components are selected from vanadium complexes with ligands.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 140° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 110° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs at a temperature in the range of about 25° C. to about 80° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said component of said added metal is present in said contacting in an amount in the range of about 10ppm. to about 1% by weight based on the weight of said ore, calculated as elemental metal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said recovering step comprises contacting said ore with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize said first metal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said ore is placed to form a first heap which is contacted with said aqueous medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contacting occurs in a slurry containing said ore and said aqueous composition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said contacting occurs in a slurry containing said ore, said oxidant and said aqueous composition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said recovering step comprises contacting said ore with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize said first metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said recovering step comprises contacting said ore with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize said first metal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 25 wherein said recovering step comprises contacting said ore with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize sid first metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said recovering step comprises contacting said ore with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize said first metal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 24 wherein said recovering step comprises contacting said ore with aqueous cyanide solution to solubilize said first metal.
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) | 1992-01-31 | 1992-08-01 | 1993-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-31 | 1996-08-01 | 1997-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-31 | 2000-08-01 | 2001-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |