Process for treating precious metal ores
AssigneeSolvay Minerals, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Wood, Richard K. DeSomber, Danial L. Marshall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides a method to control the off gas emission of sulfur dioxide from a mineral ore roaster by grinding a sulfur-containing mineral ore, adding sodium sesquicarbonate to the mineral ore, and roasting the ore and sodium sesquicarbonate at an elevated temperature.
Claims25
A method for controlling off gas emissions from a mineral ore roaster comprising:
- grinding a sulfur-containing mineral ore;
- adding sodium sesquicarbonate to the mineral ore;
- and
- roasting the mineral ore and sodium sesquicarbonate at an elevated temperature sufficient to oxidize the sulfidic material contained in the ore, and sufficient to fix at least some of the resultant sulfur dioxide.
A method for treating mineral ore, ore concentrates, or combinations thereof having recoverable precious metal values and including sulfur-containing components, the method comprising:
- adding sodium sesquicarbonate to said ore, ore concentrates, or combinations thereof;
- roasting said ore, ore concentrates, or combinations thereof in the presence of sodium sesquicarbonate at elevated temperatures sufficient to oxidize the sulfur-containing components, wherein the sodium sesquicarbonate is present in amounts sufficient to fix at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide created by oxidization of the sulfur-containing components;
- measuring the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the off gas generated by the roasting;
- adjusting the amount of sodium sesquicarbonate added to the mineral ore, ore concentrates, or combinations thereof in response to the difference between the measured concentration of sulfur dioxide and a predetermined concentration of sulfur dioxide;
- and
- recovering the roasted ore as a calcine whereby the precious metal value may be recoverable from the calcine.
A method for controlling off gas emissions from a mineral ore roaster comprising:
- introducing a mineral ore containing sulfidic material into a roaster;
- introducing sodium sesquicarbonate into the roaster;
- and
- roasting the mineral ore and sodium sesquicarbonate at an elevated temperature sufficient to oxidize the sulfidic material contained in the ore, and sufficient to fix at least a portion of the resultant sulfur dioxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.