The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 1997
Filed:
Jul. 17, 1995
Willem P Duyvesteyn, Reno, NV (US);
Matt Omofoma, Reno, NV (US);
BHP Minerals International Inc., Reno, NV (US);
Abstract
A bioleaching method is provided for recovering nickel from an ore selected from the group consisting nickel-containing lateritic ores and nickel-containing sulfidic ores or concentrates thereof. Where the ore selected is a nickel-containing lateritic ore, at least one micro-organism selective to the leaching of the lateritic ore is provided as an aqueous solution thereof maintained at a pH ranging from about 1 to 3 including a nutrient for the micro-organism. The ore may be in the form of a heap, or a charge in a vat, or as a slurry. Where the ore selected is a nickel-containing sulfidic ore or concentrate thereof, at least one micro-organism comprising a biooxidizing bacterium selective to the leaching of sulfidic ore is added as an aqueous solution to the sulfidic ore or concentrate maintained at a pH of about 1 to 3, including a nutrient for the bacterium. The ore either as a slurry, a heap, or a charge in a vat is bioleached for a time sufficient to effect the dissolution of the nickel in the ore and form a solution thereof and a residue which is separated from the solution. The nickel is then selectively extracted from the solution using an ion exchange resin, and the nickel thereafter extracted from the resin using a mineral acid.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile