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US 2019/0100823 A1Published application
System and method for above-atmospheric leaching of metal sulfides
AssigneeFLSmidth A/S
InventorsDavid J. Chaiko, Carlos Eyzaguirre
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AssigneeFLSmidth A/S
InventorsDavid J. Chaiko, Carlos Eyzaguirre
Estimating the term…
A system and method for improving leach kinetics and recovery during above-atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may comprise the steps of: (a) producing a metal sulfide concentrate [34] via flotation; (b) moving the produced metal sulfide concentrate [34] to at least one chamber [22a] of at least one reactor such as an autoclave [20]; (c) leaching the produced metal sulfide concentrate in said at least one chamber [22a] in the presence of oxygen [82] at a pressure and/or temperature above ambient, and in the presence of partially-used [25] and/or or new [92] grinding media within the at least one chamber [22a]. Systems [10] and apparatus [20, 200] for practicing the aforementioned method are also disclosed.
A method of leaching a metal sulfide, comprising:
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one reactor comprises an autoclave.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of (e) introducing new grinding media [92] to the at least one reactor [20].
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grinding media comprises ceramic grinding beads.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal sulfide concentrate comprises enargite.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of oxidizing the metal sulfide is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 100 to about 220° C.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein step (d) oxidizes substantially all of the metal sulfide within the metal sulfide concentrate [34] to a metal sulfate.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one reactor [20] comprises a stirred media reactor [200].
An autoclave [20] configured for leaching a metal sulfide, the autoclave [20] comprising at least one compartment [22a], a first inlet [27a] for receiving a metal sulfide concentrate [34] produced via flotation, a first outlet [28a] for removing a leached slurry [52] from the autoclave [20], and means for introducing new grinding media [92] to the at least one compartment of the autoclave [20].
An autoclave for leaching a metal sulfide, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.