Flsmidth A/s

Frank Andrew Baczek

David John Chaiko

Carlos Eyzaguirre

Sara (Sally) Rocks

Timothy John Laros

Tom Walters

Sarah (Sally) Rocks

Gary Roy

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

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 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

An open-channel infeed conduit of a feed dilution system of a thickener/clarifier settling tank is provided with orifices between its upstream inlet end and its outlet end. The orifices are positioned proximate to and in fluid communication with the clarified liquid phase in the tank to draw clarified liquid from the tank into the conduit responsive to or by virtue of momentum transfer between the flow of the liquid slurry feed stream in the conduit and the clarified liquid in the tank.

Open-channel feed dilution system for a thickener or settling tank

A feedwell dilution system for diluting an influent feed stream, which include at least one eductor assembly, and a feedwell assembly. The at least one eductor assembly includes a feed pipe which converges to a narrow throat portion or nozzle; a mix tube positioned downstream from the narrow throat portion that is sized and configured to provide mixing of the influent feed stream and a clarified liquid drawn from a settling tank; and an enclosure, which is installed around the narrow throat portion and an inlet portion of the mix tube and includes an open-ended portion on a bottom thereof, which is sized and configured to allow a clarified liquid to be pulled into the mix tube from below the inlet portion of the mix tube. The feedwell assembly is sized and configured to receive the mixture of the influent feed stream and the clarified liquid from the mix tube.

Growing community of inventors

Holladay, UT, United States of America

Frank Andrew Baczek