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US 4,343,773 AGranted
Enhanced leaching of minerals which form product layers
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsJan D. Miller, George Simkovich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel process for enhancing the leaching rate of a mineral wherein the mineral is characterized by the tendency to form a reaction product layer during leaching. A suitable particulate modifier such as carbon is mixed with the mineral prior to leaching and selectively alters the characteristics of the reaction product layer. The process is particularly useful for leaching chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena.
Claims16
A process for enhancing dissolution of metal values from minerals comprising:
- obtaining a mineral, the mineral being characterized by the tendency for a reaction product layer to form about particles of mineral during leaching;
- selecting a particulate modifier for suitably altering electronic conductivity characteristics of the reaction product layer;
- altering the electronic conductivity characteristics of the reaction product layer by intimately mixing the particulate modifier with the mineral thereby forming particle aggregates;
- leaching the particle aggregates, the leaching process solubilizing metal values in the mineral while forming a reaction product layer about particles of the mineral ore;
- and
- enhancing dissolution of metal values in the mineral surrounded by the reaction product layer by increasing electron transport processes across the reaction product layer with the particulate modifier.
3 more elements
A process for dissolution of metal values from a mineral comprising:
- obtaining a mineral having metal values, the mineral being characterized by the formation of a reaction product layer about particles of the mineral during leaching;
- selecting a particulate modifier for suitably altering electronic conductivity characteristics of the reaction product layer;
- mixing the particulate modifier with the mineral to form particulate aggregates;
- and
- leaching metal values from the mineral in the particle aggregates while forming a reaction product layer on particles of mineral, the particulate modifier increasing dissolution of metal values from electron mineral by increasing the transport processes across the reaction product layer.
2 more elements
A leaching process comprising:
- obtaining a sulfide-bearing mineral, the mineral being characterized by the tendency to form a reaction product layer during dissolution of metal values from the mineral;
- intimately mixing graphite particles with the mineral to form a particulate leach mixture, the graphite particles altering the characteristics of the reaction product layer;
- and
- dissolving metal values from the mineral with a leach solution, the graphite enhancing transport processes across the reaction product layer thereby increasing dissolution of metal values from the mineral.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.