Extraction process
AssigneeRTL Contactor Holding S.A.
InventorsJohn S. Rendall, Maurice J. Cahalan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention describes the extraction of values, especially metal values such as copper and uranium, from minerals by passing the mineral in admixture with a leaching agent for the values through a contactor and extracting the values with an extractant stream immiscible with the mixture and of lesser density so that the values are captured by the extractant and can be withdrawn with the extractant and, if desired, isolated by any suitable means.
Claims19
A process for extracting at least one metal or non-metal value from a mineral containing such a value or values, comprising:
- passing a mixture of the mineral and a liquid reagent through a contactor, whereby the mineral is caused to react with the reagent to convert the value or values into an extractable form;
- and
- repeatedly showering the mixture, during its passage through the contactor, through a stream of an extractant for the value or values, the extractant being substantially immiscible with the liquid reagent and the extractant and the mixture forming substantially separate phases, whereby portions of the mixture during the passage are repeatedly passed through the extractant stream and portions of the extractant are repeatedly passed through the mixture.
A process for extracting at least one metal value from a metal-containing mineral, comprising:
- forming a slurry of the mineral and a liquid leaching reagent capable of acting on the metal value or values in the mineral to give a separable form of the value or values;
- passing the slurry through a contactor in which the leaching reaction proceeds;
- showering the slurry, during its passage through the contactor, through a stream of an extractant for the contactor value or values, the extractant being substantially immiscible with the leaching reagent and the extractant and leaching reagent forming substantially separate phases, whereby portions of the slurry are repeatedly passed through the extractant during the passage and portions of the extractant are repeatedly passed through the slurry;
- and
- withdrawing separately from the contactor the extractant stream with captured metal value or values and discharge stream of the reagent and residual solids.
A process for extracting uranium from a uranium ore concentrate, comprising
- forming a slurry of the uranium ore concentrate and sulphuric acid as leaching agent;
- passing the slurry through a contactor in which the leaching reaction proceeds;
- showering the slurry, during its passage through the contactor, through a stream of an extractant for the uranium value selected from an organic solvent for the uranium, a chelating agent carried in kerosene and an ion exchange resin in the form of light-weight particles carried in a carrier liquid whereby portions of the slurry are repeatedly passed through the extractant during the passage and portions of the extractant are repeatedly passed through the slurry;
- withdrawing separately from the contactor the extractant stream with the captured uranium value and a discharge stream of the sulphuric acid and residual concentrate;
- and
- recovering the uranium from the extractant stream and recycling the extractant to the contactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.