Roasted Pyrites Metal Recovery via Ammonium Chloride Sublimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for recovering metals from roasted pyrites, a waste product of sulfuric acid production, are inefficient, often requiring high energy consumption, extensive chemical usage, and lack comprehensive separation and recycling of metal components.

Innovation Solution

A method involving oxidation treatment followed by chlorination using recyclable ammonium chloride to convert iron and other metals into chlorides, allowing for selective recovery and recycling, with iron chloride being sublimated and reduced to produce high-purity metallic iron, while noble metals like gold and silver are recovered through cyanide leaching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional methods are used for recovering metals from roasted pyrites, then metal recovery is achieved, but energy consumption is high and chemical usage is extensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetal recovery efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by using ammonium chloride instead of traditional chlorinating agents, and controls temperature parameters to enable selective sublimation of iron chloride at specific temperature ranges, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining metal recovery efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of iron chloride from solid to gas through sublimation, allowing selective separation of iron from other metals in the roasted pyrites mixture, which reduces the need for extensive chemical processing and energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Loss of substance

If conventional metal recovery methods are applied, then metals are extracted, but comprehensive separation and recycling of metal components is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetal extractionVSAvoidseparation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the metal recovery process into distinct stages: chlorination of roasted pyrites, selective sublimation of iron chloride, and separate handling of other metal chlorides, enabling comprehensive separation of different metal components for individual recycling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses ammonium chloride as an intermediary chlorinating agent that facilitates the conversion of metal oxides to chlorides, and employs cyanide solution as an intermediary for selective leaching of noble metals, simplifying the overall separation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If traditional processing methods are used, then roasted pyrites are processed, but chemical usage is extensive and environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidchemical waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful waste product roasted pyrites into valuable metal resources by using it as the starting material for chlorination and subsequent metal recovery, thereby eliminating waste while producing useful products

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers and recycles the ammonium chloride chlorinating agent after it has served its purpose, converting it back to usable form and preventing it from becoming chemical waste, thereby reducing overall chemical consumption and environmental impact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient, selective, and comprehensive recovery of metals with reduced chemical and energy usage, optimizing economic and environmental aspects by recycling process chemicals and utilizing existing stockpiles of roasted pyrites.

Implementation Method 1

chlorination of the oxidation products, more particularly oxides, obtained in method step (b), preferably using at least one chlorinating agent, more particularly recyclable chlorinating agent, preferably ammonium chloride, more particularly to give iron chloride

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChlorination: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

removing of the chlorinated products obtained in method step (c), more particularly of iron chloride and optionally chlorides of the further metals, from the product mixture obtained in method step (c)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Implementation Method 3

reduced to give metallic iron

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Implementation Method 4

noble metals like gold and silver are recovered through cyanide leaching

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyanide leaching: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS10125409B2Method and plant for processing roasted pyrites

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 BLUCHER GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a recovery system for obtaining raw materials from ores and/or ore tailings, in particular a method and a recovery system for recovering metals from ores and/or ore tailings, especially a method and a recovery system for recovering metals from pyrite tailings, preferably from roasted pyrites produced during sulphuric acid manufacture.