Process for extraction of metals from ores or industrial materials

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-02-23
FINK JOHN W
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage of the cyanide chemical extraction leach is the toxicity and potential environmental impact of an accidental discharge which can result in devastating environmental damage.
One disadvantage of the acid leaches is that this process is so costly that it can only be used economically on very concentrated ore (i.e., where the percentage of precious metals has been increased) or industrial materials.
A further disadvantage with the acid leach process is that a significant amount of iron and other base metals may be leached from natural ores, ore concentrates or industrial materials.
This resulting presence of iron and other base metals severely complicates the refining of the recovered platinum group metals and gold, and may have an adverse effect on the amount of refined platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium or gold that can be ultimately recovered.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0010] The invention provides a process for extracting metals, including platinum group metals and gold, from natural ores, ore concentrates or industrial materials. The most effective recovery of metals from natural ores and ore concentrates is achieved for natural ores and ore concentrates where the metals to be recovered are not bound in a sulfide complex. The process of the invention is carried out in order to convert metals, such as, for example, precious metals (e.g., platinum group metals and gold), as well as copper, silver and nickel, contained in the target material (natural ores, ore concentrates or industrial materials) from their original forms to hydroxide forms.

[0011] In one embodiment, the process according to the invention is accomplished by effecting contact between the target material and a hydroxide-containing chemical or material (that is any chemical or compound which includes the characters “O” and “H” written as the linked symbol “OH”, also known as the OH r...

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Abstract

Process for extracting and recovering metals, including precious metals, such as platinum group metals and gold, from natural ores, ore concentrates or industrial materials, including contacting the natural ores, ore concentrates or industrial materials with a hydroxide-containing compound at an elevated temperature; dissolving the material in a solution, and recovering the metals from the solution.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of International Application PCT / US2005 / 011572, filed on Apr. 4, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 559,868, filed on Apr. 5, 2004. The foregoing patent applications are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to the extraction and recovery of metals, including precious metals such as platinum group metals, and gold, from natural ores, ore concentrates or industrial materials, and more particularly to the extraction of metals which are not complexed with sulfur in the natural ores and ore concentrates. [0004] 2. Brief Description of the Related Art [0005] Currently, acid or cyanide leaches, either pressurized or at atmospheric pressure, or other means such as smelting, are generally utilized to extract metals such as platinum group metals, gold, nickel and / or copper fro...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C22B3/44C22B11/00C22B11/02
CPCC22B3/12C22B7/008C22B11/048C22B11/026C22B7/009Y02P10/20
InventorHOLGERSEN, JAMES D.
OwnerFINK JOHN W