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US 6,284,530 B1Granted
Sulfide mineral concentrate bioleaching
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorsJames E. Sharp, Kevin L. Stuffle, Kelly L. Karlage, Tom L. Young
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Abstract
The subject invention provides a novel process and bioreactor for enhancing the bioleaching of metals from sulfide mineral concentrations.
Claims9
A biological reactor for enhanced concentrate leaching which comprises a plurality of bioreactor cells, in flow communication, said plurality of cells comprising:
- (a) a cell loaded with packing material which is coated with a substrate which supports and sustains the activity of acidophilic microbes;
- (b) a leaching cell loaded with packing material which is coated with an inoculum-supporting substrate which is leached;
- (c) a plurality of stacked cells loaded with packing material which supports a concentrate material, each one of the plurality of stacked cells comprising a perforated inner cell wall surrounded by an outer cell wall providing maximum air flow through the plurality of stacked cells;
- and
- wherein the plurality of bioreactor cells are constructed and arranged to provide air flow through the cells.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.