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US 10,344,353 B2Granted
Leach aid for metal recovery
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsVladimir Mujicic, Kim Coleman, Kevin O'Brien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of recovering metals from metal-bearing materials, and more particularly, methods for improving leaching efficiency in extraction processes by employing a surfactant composition in the extraction process, as well as slurries useful in the methods of recovering metals are provided.
Claims19
A method of extracting metal from a metal-bearing ore, the method comprising:
- applying a surfactant composition comprising a high terpene-containing natural oil, and a leaching agent comprising an acid and/or a cyanide to the ore to form a treated ore;
- subjecting the treated ore to a leaching process selected from dump leaching, heap leaching, vat leaching, or agitated leaching;
- and
- recovering at least a portion of the metal, wherein the metal is at least one of gold, silver, and copper.
1 more element
A method of improving leaching efficiency in a metal extraction process, the method comprising:
- applying a surfactant composition comprising a high terpene-containing natural oil to a metal-bearing ore;
- and
- subjecting the metal-bearing ore to a leaching process selected from dump leaching, heap leaching, vat leaching, or agitated leaching, wherein the metal is at least one of gold, silver, and copper.
A slurry comprising:
- water;
- a metal-bearing ore comprising at least one of gold, silver, and copper;
- a surfactant composition comprising a high terpene-containing natural oil selected from the group consisting of:
- orange peel oil, grapefruit peel oil, lemon peel oil, pine oil, and combinations thereof;
- and
- a leaching agent comprising at least one of an acid and a cyanide
- wherein the slurry is disposed on a fixed bed.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.