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For the Inventor, By the Inventor

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Houyuan Liu

This inventor holds 8 USPTO granted patents. Top assignees: Bhp Minerals International Inc., Bhp-Utah International Corp.. Active years: 1993-2002.

IDiyas Innovation Intelligence. (2026). Inventor Profile: Houyuan Liu. Retrieved from https://idiyas.com/inventor/houyuan-liu-sof0h8gn

Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile

Calculating rank
USPTO Granted Patents = 8

% Patents Active = 100.0

Average Co-Inventor Count = 3.0

ph-index = 5

Forward Citations = 58(Granted Patents)


Location History:

  • Sunnyvale, CA (US) (1993 - 1994)
  • Reno, NV (US) (1996)
  • Sparks, NV (US) (2001 - 2002)

Company Filing History:

goldMedal7 out of 20 
 
Bhp Minerals International Inc.
 patents
silverMedal1 out of 1 
 
Bhp-Utah International Corp.
 patent

Years Active: 1993-2002

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8 patents (USPTO):Explore Patents
1. 6395061 - Process for organic acid bioleaching of ore (2002-05-28),
2. 6312500 - Heap leaching of nickel containing ore (2001-11-06),
3. 5571308 - Method for recovering nickel from high magnesium-containing Ni-Fe-Mg (1996-11-05),
4. 5328035 - Lithium metatungstate (1994-07-12),
5. 5304359 - Dissolution of platinum group metals from materials containing said (1994-04-19),
6. 5292490 - Recovery platinum group metals from oxides ores (1994-03-08),
7. 5236491 - Boron recovery from geothermal brines (1993-08-17),
8. 5178848 - Lithium metatungstate (1993-01-12),


Title: The Innovations of Inventor Houyuan Liu: Pioneering in Nickel Bioleaching


Introduction:

Houyuan Liu is a notable inventor based in Sunnyvale, California, recognized for his contributions to the field of mineral processing and bioleaching technology. With a remarkable portfolio of 8 patents, Liu has made significant strides in developing processes to improve the extraction of nickel from ores.


Latest Patents:

Among his recent innovations, Liu has introduced a "Process for Organic Acid Bioleaching of Ore." This method involves mixing a microorganism capable of producing an organic acid with a nutrient and nickel-magnesium ore. The process enhances the dissolution of nickel and generates solutions containing nickel and magnesium salts, thus facilitating the separation of nickel from magnesium. Another patent, titled "Heap Leaching of Nickel Containing Ore," outlines a method for heap leaching ore to recover nickel, especially from ores with clay content exceeding 10% by weight. This method includes sizing the ore, forming pellets with a lixiviant, and leaching the pellets with sulfuric acid to extract valuable metal components without the need for intermediate neutralization.


Career Highlights:

Houyuan Liu has taken his expertise to some esteemed organizations during his career, including BHP Minerals International Inc. and BHP-Utah International Corporation. His work in these companies has greatly influenced advancements in mining and metallurgical processes.


Collaborations:

Throughout his career, Liu has worked alongside notable colleagues such as Willem P. Duyvesteyn and Manuel R. Lastra. These collaborations have likely contributed to the depth and breadth of his innovative projects and patents.


Conclusion:

Houyuan Liu's work exemplifies the spirit of innovation in the field of mineral extraction. With his extensive patent portfolio, he continues to lead advancements in bioleaching processes, strengthening the methods used to recover nickel from ores and contributing to the sustainability of mineral resource utilization.

Profile summary based on public USPTO records.
Data Sources: USPTO Patent Grant XML, Patent Center, EPO & CIPO • Normalized by IDiyas Innovation Graph. Methodology & provenance architecturePlease report any incorrect information to [email protected]
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