# US 10,501,821 B2 · System and method including multi-circuit solution extraction for recovery of metal values from metal-bearing materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,821 B2 - Document ID: US10501821B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/020,405 - Filed: 2018-06-27 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Freeport Minerals Corporation - Applicants: Freeport Minerals Corporation - Inventors: Jason M Morgan; Barbara J Savage; David G Meadows; Wayne W Hazen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501821B2 ## CPC - C22B 3/02: Apparatus therefor - B01D 11/028: {Flow sheets} - B01D 11/0488: {Flow sheets} - C22B 3/20: Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching (C22B3/18 takes precedence) - C22B 3/26: by liquid-liquid extraction using organic compounds - C22B 3/44: by chemical processes (treatment or purification of solutions by liquid-liquid extraction C22B3/26, by ion-exchange extraction C22B3/42) - C25C 7/00: Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells (for the production of aluminium C25C3/06 - C25C3/22) - Y02P 10/20: Recycling - C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C25C: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for extracting metal value comprising: a solution extraction plant comprising a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein the first circuit comprises a first first circuit extractor, a second first circuit extractor, a third first circuit extractor, a fourth first circuit extractor, and at least two first circuit stripping units, and wherein the second circuit comprises a first second circuit extractor, a second second circuit extractor and at least one second circuit stripping unit; a first electrolyte forwarded to a primary electrowinning circuit; and a second electrolyte forwarded to a second electrowinning circuit, wherein the third first circuit extractor is in fluid communication with the first second circuit extractor, and wherein the fourth first circuit extractor is in fluid communication with the second second circuit extractor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of a first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit, a second portion of the first metal-bearing solution is provided to the second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the second circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first metal-bearing solution is a pregnant leach solution comprising a higher concentration of metal than the second metal-bearing solution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first metal-bearing solution and the second metal-bearing solution comprise copper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second first circuit extractor and the third first circuit extractor produces a high-grade raffinate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first circuit stripping units receives a lean electrolyte. ### Claim 7 A system for extracting metal value comprising: a solution extraction plant comprising a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein the first circuit comprises a first first circuit extractor, a second first circuit extractor, a third first circuit extractor, a fourth first circuit extractor, a first first circuit stripping unit, and a second first circuit stripping unit, wherein the second first circuit stripping unit is in fluid communication and positioned between the second first circuit extractor and the third first circuit extractor, and wherein the second circuit comprises a first second circuit extractor, a second second circuit extractor, and at least one second circuit stripping unit; a first electrolyte forwarded to a primary electrowinning circuit; and a second electrolyte forwarded to a second electrowinning circuit, wherein the third first circuit extractor is in fluid communication with the first second circuit extractor, and wherein the fourth first circuit extractor is in fluid communication with the second second circuit extractor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein a first portion of a first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit, a second portion of the first metal-bearing solution is provided to the second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the second circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first metal-bearing solution is a pregnant leach solution comprising a higher concentration of metal than the second metal-bearing solution. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first metal-bearing solution and the second metal-bearing solution comprise copper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the third first circuit extractor produces a high-grade raffinate. ### Claim 12 A system for extracting metal value comprising: a solution extraction plant comprising a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein the first circuit comprises at least four first circuit extractors and at least two first circuit stripping units, wherein the second circuit comprises at least two second circuit extractors and at least two second circuit stripping units, and wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are in fluid communication with each other; a first electrolyte forwarded to a primary electrowinning circuit; and a second electrolyte forwarded to a second electrowinning circuit, wherein the third first circuit extractor is in fluid communication with the first second circuit extractor, wherein the fourth first circuit extractor is in fluid communication with the second second circuit extractor, and wherein the second second circuit extractor receives a lean electrolyte. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein a first portion of a first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit, a second portion of the first metal-bearing solution is provided to the second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the second circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first metal-bearing solution is a pregnant leach solution comprising a higher concentration of metal than the second metal-bearing solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first metal-bearing solution and the second metal-bearing solution comprise copper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first circuit extractors produces a high-grade raffinate.