Ecolab USA Inc.

Nalco Company

Kim Richard Coleman

John David Kildea

Dmitri L Kouznetsov

Jianjun Liu

Ryan Chester

Rolf Arndt

Ji Cui

Kevin O'Brien

David H Slinkman

Timothy La

Vladimir Mujicic

Methods of recovering metals from metal-bearing materials, and more particularly, methods for improving leaching efficiency in extraction processes by employing a surfactant composition in the extraction process, as well as slurries useful in the methods of recovering metals are provided.

Leach aid for metal recovery

The invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatuses for preventing the formation of scale in heap leach process solution distribution systems comprised of piping, spray nozzles, or emitter tubes. Solution distribution system components often become fouled by scale because of local hot spots more prone to form scale than other locations along the systems length. Positioning sensors that detect periods of high temperature stress and adjusting scale control reagent dosage to send the right amount to inhibit hot spot deposition allows for the control of scale without using wasteful excessive amounts of scale control reagents. This can vastly improve scale control performance under high temperature stress conditions while minimizing scale control reagent waste under less severe stress conditions to reduce the total operating cost of running heap leach mining operations which depend upon well-functioning solution distribution systems.

Utilization of temperature heat adsorption skin temperature as scale control reagent driver

The present invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitates from a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Composition for enhancing the production of crystal agglomerates from a precipitation liquor

The present invention relates ways to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitated of a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Composition and method for enhancing the production of crystal agglomerates from a precipitation liquor

The invention provides a method of controlling silica in the liquor circuit of the Bayer process. The method involves addition of a promoter material to enhance the precipitation of DSP and includes adding one or more silica dispersion materials or dry silica forms to those parts of the circuit where precipitation of DSP and removal of silica from solution is desirable; for example the desilication stage of a Bayer process plant. The removal of DSP from solution reduces silica concentration in the liquor and thereby enables better control of process issues such as silica contamination in alumina product and DSP formation in later stages of the process where precipitation as scale onto vessel walls and equipment is problematical. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Kim Richard Coleman