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:
Apr. 06, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2007
James D. Gillaspie, Gilbert, AZ (US);
David R. Baughman, Golden, CO (US);
Dennis D. Gertenbach, Lakewood, CO (US);
Wayne W. Hazen, Lakewood, CO (US);
George Owusu, Thornton, CO (US);
John C. Wilmot, Anthem, AZ (US);
James D. Gillaspie, Gilbert, AZ (US);
David R. Baughman, Golden, CO (US);
Dennis D. Gertenbach, Lakewood, CO (US);
Wayne W. Hazen, Lakewood, CO (US);
George Owusu, Thornton, CO (US);
John C. Wilmot, Anthem, AZ (US);
Freeport-McMoran Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution ('PLS'). More particularly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advantageous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.