Leaching and washing a flocculated slurry having a fiber content

A method of removing metal from particlized metal bearing ore, utilizing a treatment vessel, comprising the steps:

• (a) mixing the ore with a liquid to form a liquid slurry, and with a floccuating material so as to hold the ore in a stable network;
• (b) continuously passing the slurry downwardly in the vessel;
• (c) continuously passing a leaching liquid, capable of leaching the metal from the ore, upwardly in the vessel, counter-current to the slurry passage, to remove metal from the ore of the slurry;
• (d) continuously removing the treated slurry from a bottom portion of the vessel;
• and
• (d) continuously removing pregnant leaching liquid, with removed metal therein, from a top portion of the vessel.

A method of removing metal from particlized metal bearing ore, utilizing a treatment vessel, comprising the steps:

• (a) mixing the ore with a liquid to form a liquid slurry, and with fibers so as to facilitate locking of the ore in a stable network;
• (b) continuously passing the slurry downwardly in the vessel;
• (c) continuously passing a leaching liquid, capable of leaching the metal from the ore upwardly in the vessel, counter-current to the slurry passage, to remove metal from the ore of the slurry;
• (d) continuously removing the treated slurry from a bottom portion of the vessel;
• and
• (e) continuously removing pregnant leaching liquid, with removed metal therein, from a top portion of the vessel.

A method of removing sulfur compounds from particlized coke or coal, utilizing a treatment vessel, comprising the steps:

• (a) mixing the coke or coal with a liquid to form a liquid slurry, and with fibers and a flocculating material so as to hold the coke or coal in a stable network;
• (b) continuously passing the slurry downwardly in the vessel;
• (c) continuously passing a leaching liquid, capable of leaching sulfur compounds from the particlized coke or coal upwardly in the vessel, counter-current to the slurry passage, to remove sulfur from the particlized coke or coal of the slurry;
• (d) continuously removing the treated slurry from a bottom portion of the vessel;
• and
• (e) continuously removing pregnant leaching liquid, with removed sulfur compounds therein, from a top portion of the vessel.

A method of treating particlized coal or coke to effect removal of sulfur compounds therefrom, comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a slurry from the particlized coal or coke, liquid, a flocculating agent, and fibers, the flocculating agent and fibers causing the particlized coal or coke to be locked in a stable network;
• (b) subjecting the slurry to treatment with a leaching liquid;
• and
• (c) removing the sulfur compounds from the leaching liquid after treatment of the slurry.