US5733431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for removing copper ions from copper ore using organic extractions
Assignee: HW ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-21
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Granted: 1998-03-31
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Expires: 2016-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for removing solid wastes from an organic extractant-based SX/EW copper processing system. A lixivant is initially applied to copper ore, followed by mixing of the copper-containing lixivant product with an organic extractant. The organic extractant (which contains extracted copper ions) is then contacted with an electrolyte solution. At least part of the remaining organic fraction after electrolyte contact is passed through a filtration membrane (either an ultrafiltration or microfiltration membrane) to remove solid wastes. The filtered organic fraction is then reused within the system, followed by electrowinning of the copper-containing electrolyte to recover purified copper. Alternatively, the organic extractant may be membrane-filtered after initial contact with the copper-containing lixivant product to remove solid wastes from the organic extractant. Both embodiments improve phase separation efficiency, reduce organic extractant losses, and improve the effectiveness of the electrowinning process.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis H. Green
- 👤 Jeffrey J. Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:41
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/14; B01D61/145; B01D61/147; C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/26; C22B3/30; C25; C25C; C25C1/00; C25C1/12; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
374 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; combining said first organic phase with an electrolyte solution in a secondary containment vessel to generate a chemical mixture comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase, said second aqueous phase comprising said electrolyte solution in combination with said copper ions, and said second organic phase comprising said organic extractant and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product; separating said second organic phase from said second aqueous phase; delivering at least a portion of said second organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said portion of said second organic phase flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant; transferring said recovered supply of organic extractant to said primary containment vessel for reuse therein in treating subsequent amounts of said lixivant product; placing said second aqueous phase in contact with an anode and a cathode; and applying electricity to said second aqueous phase, said electricity causing said copper ions within said second aqueous phase to be removed therefrom and plated onto said cathode as metallic copper.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
374 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; combining said first organic phase with an electrolyte solution in a secondary containment vessel to generate a chemical mixture comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase, said second aqueous phase comprising said electrolyte solution in combination with said copper ions, and said second organic phase comprising said organic extractant and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product; separating said second organic phase from said second aqueous phase; delivering at least a portion of said second organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said portion of said second organic phase flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant; transferring said recovered supply of organic extractant to said primary containment vessel for reuse therein in treating subsequent amounts of said lixivant product; placing said second aqueous phase in contact with an anode and a cathode; and applying electricity to said second aqueous phase, said electricity causing said copper ions within said second aqueous phase to be removed therefrom and plated onto said cathode as metallic copper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said filtration membrane is selected from the group consisting of a microfiltration membrane and an ultrafiltration membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said pores through said filtration membrane has a diameter of about 0.001-1.0 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said permeate passes through said filtration membrane at a membrane flux rate of about 10-30 GFD.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said filtration membrane further comprises a first end and a second end, and said delivering of said portion of said second organic phase to said filtration membrane comprises supplying said portion of said second organic phase to said first end of said filtration membrane so that said portion of said second organic phase flows onto said filtration membrane and travels across said filtration membrane from said first end to said second end in order to produce said permeate and said retentate during movement of said portion of said second organic phase across said filtration membrane, said retentate leaving said filtration membrane at said second end thereof, said movement of said portion of said second organic phase across said filtration membrane from said first end to said second end preventing cloggage of said pores in said filtration membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said organic extractant comprises at least one hydroxyphenyl oxime.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte solution comprises sulfuric acid.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
308 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; combining said first organic phase with an electrolyte solution in a secondary containment vessel to generate a chemical mixture comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase, said second aqueous phase comprising said electrolyte solution in combination with said copper ions, and said second organic phase comprising said organic extractant and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product; separating said second organic phase from said second aqueous phase; and delivering at least a portion of said second organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said portion of said second organic phase flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
308 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; combining said first organic phase with an electrolyte solution in a secondary containment vessel to generate a chemical mixture comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase, said second aqueous phase comprising said electrolyte solution in combination with said copper ions, and said second organic phase comprising said organic extractant and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product; separating said second organic phase from said second aqueous phase; and delivering at least a portion of said second organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said portion of said second organic phase flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said filtration membrane is selected from the group consisting of a microfiltration membrane and an ultrafiltration membrane.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
389 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; dividing said first organic phase into at lease a primary fraction and a secondary fraction; delivering said primary fraction of said first organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said primary fraction flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant; transferring said recovered supply of organic extractant to said primary containment vessel for reuse therein in treating subsequent amounts of said lixivant product; combining said secondary fraction of said first organic phase with an electrolyte solution in a secondary containment vessel to generate a chemical mixture therein comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase, said second aqueous phase comprising said electrolyte solution in combination with said copper ions, and said second organic phase comprising said organic extractant; separating said second organic phase from said second aqueous phase; placing said second aqueous phase in contact with an anode and a cathode; and applying electricity to said second aqueous phase, said electricity causing said copper ions within said second aqueous phase to be removed therefrom and plated onto said cathode as metallic copper.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
389 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; dividing said first organic phase into at lease a primary fraction and a secondary fraction; delivering said primary fraction of said first organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said primary fraction flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant; transferring said recovered supply of organic extractant to said primary containment vessel for reuse therein in treating subsequent amounts of said lixivant product; combining said secondary fraction of said first organic phase with an electrolyte solution in a secondary containment vessel to generate a chemical mixture therein comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase, said second aqueous phase comprising said electrolyte solution in combination with said copper ions, and said second organic phase comprising said organic extractant; separating said second organic phase from said second aqueous phase; placing said second aqueous phase in contact with an anode and a cathode; and applying electricity to said second aqueous phase, said electricity causing said copper ions within said second aqueous phase to be removed therefrom and plated onto said cathode as metallic copper.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said filtration membrane is selected from the group consisting of a microfiltration membrane and an ultrafiltration membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein each of said pores through said filtration membrane has a diameter of about 0.001-1.0 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said permeate passes through said filtration membrane at a membrane flux rate of about 10-30 GFD.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
133 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said filtration membrane further comprises a first end and a second end, and said delivering of said primary fraction of said first organic phase to said filtration membrane comprises supplying said primary fraction to said first end of said filtration membrane so that said primary fraction flows onto said filtration membrane and travels across said filtration membrane from said first end to said second end in order to produce said permeate and said retentate during movement of said primary fraction across said filtration membrane, said retentate leaving said filtration membrane at said second end thereof, said movement of said primary fraction of said first organic phase across said filtration membrane from said first end to said second end preventing cloggage of said pores in said filtration membrane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said organic extractant comprises at least one hydroxyphenyl oxime.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said electrolyte solution comprises sulfuric acid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said dividing of said first organic phase into said primary fraction and said secondary fraction comprises removing about 1-10% by weight of said first organic phase as said primary fraction and removing about 90-99% by weight of said first organic phase as said secondary fraction.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
246 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; and delivering at least a portion of said first organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said portion of said first organic phase flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
246 words
A method for recovering copper from copper ore comprising the steps of: providing a supply of copper ore; placing said copper ore in contact with a lixivant solution, said lixivant solution extracting copper ions from said ore to produce a lixivant product comprising said lixivant solution in combination with said copper ions, said lixivant product further comprising at least one solid waste material therein; combining said lixivant product with an organic extractant in a primary containment vessel to generate a mixed liquid product therein comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, said first organic phase comprising said organic extractant in combination with said copper ions and at least a portion of said solid waste material originally obtained from said lixivant product, and said first aqueous phase comprising said lixivant solution; separating said first organic phase from said first aqueous phase; and delivering at least a portion of said first organic phase to at least one filtration membrane comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of said pores through said filtration membrane having a diameter sufficient to prevent passage of said solid waste material therethrough while allowing passage of said organic extractant, said portion of said first organic phase flowing onto said filtration membrane in order to produce a permeate which passes through said filtration membrane and a retentate which does not pass through said filtration membrane, said retentate comprising said solid waste material and said permeate comprising a recovered supply of organic extractant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said filtration membrane is selected from the group consisting of a microfiltration membrane and an ultrafiltration membrane.
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