Flsmidth A/s

Other

David John Chaiko

Frank Andrew Baczek

Sara (Sally) Rocks

Carlos Eyzaguirre

Gary Roy

Tom Walters

Sarah (Sally) Rocks

Sally Rocks

Sara (sally) Rocks

Sara Rocks

A method of improving metal leach kinetics and recovery during atmospheric or substantially atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may comprise the step of processing a metal sulfide concentrate in a reductive activation circuitthat operates at a first redox potential, to produce a reductively-activated metal sulfide concentrate. The method may further comprise the step of subsequently processing the activated metal sulfide concentrate in an oxidative leach circuitto extract metal values. In some disclosed embodiments, reductive activation steps and/or oxidative dissolution steps may employ mechano-chemical and/or physico-chemical processing of particles or agglomerates thereof. Reductive activation may be made prior to heap leaching or bio-leaching operations to improve metal extraction. Systems for practicing the aforementioned methods are also disclosed.

Activation system and method for enhancing metal recovery during atmospheric leaching of metal sulfides

A method for removing sulfate iron-containing compounds from a low- to moderate-temperature metal sulfide leach circuit () is disclosed. A reactor () within a chloride leach circuit () and which is preferably maintained at a temperature between 20 and 150 degrees Celsius may be provided with a catalyst () comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: colloidal hematite, colloidal goethite, particulate containing FeOOH, particulate containing &#x3b1;-FeOOH, particulate containing &#x3b3;-FeOOH, particulate containing FeO, particulate containing &#x3b1;-FeO, particulate containing &#x3b3;-FeO, particulate containing FeO, particulate containing Fe(OH)SO, and a combination thereof. The catalyst () may also be used with heap leach and/or dump leach circuits (), without limitation. Methods for using and generating the catalyst () are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the catalyst () may be used as an anti-frothing agent (e.g., for zinc leaching, without limitation).

Solid-state catalysts for low or moderate temperature leach applications and methods thereof

Systems for improving metal leach kinetics and metal recovery during atmospheric or substantially atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide are disclosed. In some embodiments, an oxidative leach circuitmay employ Mechano-Chemcial/Physico-Chemical processing means for improving leach kinetics and/or metal recovery. In preferred embodiments, the Mechano-Chemcial/Physico-Chemical means comprises various combinations of stirred-tank reactorsand shear-tank reactors. As will be described herein, the stirred-tank reactorsand shear-tank reactorsmay be arranged in series and/or in parallel with each other, without limitation. In some non-limiting embodiments, a shear-tank reactormay also be disposed, in-situ, within a stirred-tank reactor

System and method for enhanced metal recovery during atmospheric leaching of metal sulfides

A method of controlling iron in a hydrometallurgical process is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: leaching () a feed slurry (); forming a pregnant leach solution (); removing a first leach residue () from the pregnant leach solution (); and sending a portion () of the pregnant leach solution () and/or raffinate () produced therefrom, to an iron removal process (). According to some preferred embodiments, the iron removal process () may comprise the steps of: sequentially processing the pregnant leach solution () and/or raffinate () produced therefrom in a first reactor (R) a second reactor (R), and a third reactor (R); maintaining a pH level of the first reactor (R) above 4, by virtue of the addition of a first base; maintaining a pH level of the second (R) and/or third (R) reactors above 8.5, by virtue of a second base; and forming solids () comprising magnetite (). The method may further comprise the steps of performing a solid liquid separation step () after the iron removal process (); and performing a magnetic separation step () to remove magnetite () from said solids comprising magnetite (), without limitation. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Methods for controlling iron via magnetite formation in hydrometallurgical processes

A system and method for improving leach kinetics and recovery during above-atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may comprise the steps of: (a) producing a metal sulfide concentrate [via flotation; (b) moving the produced metal sulfide concentrate [to at least one chamber [] of at least one reactor such as an autoclave []; (c) leaching the produced metal sulfide concentrate in said at least one chamber [] in the presence of oxygen [at a pressure and/or temperature above ambient, and in the presence of partially-used [and/or or new [grinding media within the at least one chamber []. Systems [and apparatus [] for practicing the aforementioned method are also disclosed.

System and method for above-atmospheric leaching of metal sulfides

A method of improving leach kinetics and recovery during atmospheric or above-atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide is disclosed. A system for practicing the aforementioned method is also disclosed. Apparatus for practicing the aforementioned method is also disclosed. A new composition of matter which is formed by the aforementioned method, and which may be utilized in the system and apparatus is further disclosed. The new composition of matter may exhibit improved leach kinetics, and may have some utility in the semi-conductor arts, including uses within photovoltaic materials.

Methods for rapidly leaching chalcopyrite

A method of operating a concentrator may comprise producing a final copper concentrate and periodically or continuously analyzing the produced final copper concentrate to obtain a grade value of the produced final copper concentrate. The produced final copper concentrate may be sent to a downstream smelting operation if/when the grade value of the produced final copper concentrate is at or above a minimum acceptable grade threshold and may be sent to a downstream hydrometallurgical operation capable of producing copper cathode, if/when the grade value of the produced final copper concentrate is below or falls below the minimum acceptable grade threshold.

System and methods for optimizing the efficiency of smelting copper concentrates

A method of improving metal leach kinetics and recovery during atmospheric or substantially atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may comprise the steps of: (a) producing a metal sulfide flotation concentrate; (b) processing the metal sulfide concentrate in a reductive activation circuit that operates at a first redox potential, to produce a reductively-activated metal sulfide concentrate; and, (c) subsequently processing the activated metal sulfide concentrate in an oxidative leach circuit to extract metal values. In some disclosed embodiments, reductive activation steps may be employed prior to oxidative leaching steps (including heap leap leaching or bio-leaching steps). In some embodiments, physico-chemical processing steps may be employed during reductive activation and/or oxidative leaching. Systems for practicing the aforementioned methods are also disclosed.

A method of controlling frothing during atmospheric or substantially atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may comprise the steps of (a) producing a metal sulfide concentrate via flotation; (b) producing a tailings stream via flotation; and, (c) diverting a portion or all of said produced tailings stream to an atmospheric or substantially atmospheric sulfide leach circuit. A metal recovery flowsheet is also disclosed. In some embodiments, the metal recovery flowsheet may comprise a unit operation comprising: (a) a sulfide concentrator comprising a flotation circuit, the flotation circuit producing a metal sulfide concentrate stream, and a tailings stream; and, (b) an atmospheric or substantially atmospheric metal sulfide leach circuit. The sulfide concentrator may be operatively connected to the atmospheric or substantially atmospheric metal sulfide leach circuit via both of said metal sulfide concentrate stream, and said tailings stream.

System and method for controlling frothing during atmospheric leaching of metal sulphides using silicates

Disclosed are novel compounds which display enhanced reactive properties due, in part, to induced lattice strain. The new compounds demonstrate accelerated leaching of copper under oxidizing conditions. The activated compounds are produced under conditions of time, temperature, Eh, and pH which retard the rate of lattice strain relaxation. Further disclosed are methods of making and using the novel compounds.

Activated semiconductor compounds having increased electrochemical reactivity and associated methods thereof

Polymer composites and polymer nanocomposites are designed and manufactured by choosing surface-modified fillers having a solid surface energy matching the solid surface energy of the polymer, wherein the advancing contact angle of the polymer on the surface-modified filler is less than about 5 degrees. The fillers are surface-modified by adsorption of amorphous polymeric surfactants, consisting of either mono-modal, bimodal, or multi-modal size distribution. The surface-modified fillers of this invention display a measurable yield stress and a viscosity of about 30.000 Pa&#xb7;s or less at room temperature, and comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of minerals, plant material, animal material, carbon fiber, graphite, amorphous carbon, carbon nanotubes, and glass fiber. This invention also provides a method for manufacturing a polymer nanocomposite which includes exfoliating an amorphous organoclay in a crystalline or semi-crystalline polymer by melt compounding the constituents in the absence of added solvents, activators, edge-modifiers, compatibilizers, or hydrotropes.

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South Jordan, UT, United States of America

David John Chaiko