Environmentally-friendly compositions and methods for extracting minerals and metals from ore
AssigneeLocus IP Company, LLC
InventorsSEAN FARMER, KARTHIK N. KARATHUR
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The subject invention provides safe, environmentally-friendly, compositions and methods for extracting minerals and/or metals from ore. More specifically, the subject invention provides for bioleaching using a composition comprising one or more biosurfactant-producing microorganisms and/or microbial growth by-products. In specific embodiments, the composition comprises biosurfactant-producing yeasts and/or their growth by-products.
Claims22
A decadmiation composition comprising a sophorolipid biosurfactant, an acid and, optionally, a pH adjuster, wherein the sophorolipid is a linear sophorolipid or a derivative of a linear sophorolipid;
- and wherein the acid is selected from acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, propionic acid, ascorbic acid, glyoxylic acid, malonic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, uric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, boric acid and analogs thereof
A method for extracting an impurity from phosphate ore, the method comprising:
- (i) obtaining the phosphate ore, said ore comprising phosphate and an impurity;
- (ii) contacting a composition comprising a sophorolipid biosurfactant, an acid, and, optionally, a pH adjuster, with the ore for a period of time to yield a mixture comprising a treated phosphate ore and an impurity that has reacted with the composition;
- and
- (iii) separating the reacted impurity and composition from the mixture to obtain a reduced-impurity phosphate-containing material.
A method for extracting an impurity from phosphate ore, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining the phosphate ore, said ore comprising phosphate and an impurity;
- (b) preparing a slurry of the phosphate ore in water and maintaining the slurry under agitation;
- (c) applying a composition comprising a sophorolipid biosurfactant, an acid, and, optionally, a pH adjuster, to the slurry under agitation for a period of time to yield a mixture comprising a treated phosphate ore and an impurity that has reacted with the composition;
- (d) halting the agitation and allowing the mixture to stand for another period of time, thereby causing the formation of a precipitate comprising the treated phosphate ore and an aqueous layer comprising the reacted impurity and composition;
- and
- (e) separating the precipitate from the layer of water to obtain a reduced-impurity phosphate-containing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.