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. 10, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2002
John O. Marsden, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Robert E. Brewer, Safford, AZ (US);
Joanna M. Robertson, Thatcher, AZ (US);
Wayne W. Hazen, Lakewood, CO (US);
Philip Thompson, West Valley City, UT (US);
David R. Baughman, Golden, CO (US);
John O. Marsden, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Robert E. Brewer, Safford, AZ (US);
Joanna M. Robertson, Thatcher, AZ (US);
Wayne W. Hazen, Lakewood, CO (US);
Philip Thompson, West Valley City, UT (US);
David R. Baughman, Golden, CO (US);
Phelps Dodge Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a process for the production of sulfuric acid and liberation of precious metal values from materials containing sulfur through pressure leaching operations. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the sulfur-bearing materials may comprise residues from pressure leaching operations, such as those carried out at medium temperatures. The process of the present invention can be advantageously used to convert such sulfur-bearing materials to sulfuric acid by means of pressure leaching. The sulfuric acid so produced can be used beneficially in other mineral processing operations, for example those at the site where it is produced. Metals, such as precious metals, that are contained within the sulfur-bearing materials advantageously may be recovered from processing products by established precious metals recovery technology.