公开(公告)号：US10023935B2

公开(公告)日：2018-07-17

申请号：US15509147

申请日：2015-09-14

Applicant: FLSmidth A/S

Inventor： David J. Chaiko ,  Frank Baczek ,  Tom Walters ,  Sarah (Sally) Rocks ,  Carlos Eyzaguirre

IPC: C22B1/00 ,  C22B3/04 ,  C22B15/00 ,  C22B3/02

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US20170080355A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-23

申请号：US15120239

申请日：2015-02-16

Applicant: Frank BACZEK ,  FLSmidth A/S

Inventor： Frank Baczek ,  David J. Chaiko ,  Vishal Gupta ,  Suma Kandagatla ,  Bryan Potratz ,  Gary Roy

IPC: B01D11/04 ,  B01D17/02 ,  B01D17/04

CPC classification number: B01D11/0457 ,  B01D11/048 ,  B01D17/0211 ,  B01D17/041

Abstract: A mixer settler system is disclosed. The system comprises a mixer [110] configured for receiving an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the mixer [110] being further configured to maintain the organic phase and the aqueous phase in a single unstable emulsion phase, wherein mass transfer occurs between said organic phase and said aqueous phase; and, a column settler [120] which is configured to receive a single unstable emulsion phase from the mixer [110] via an emulsion inlet [125] and is also configured to separate the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase by virtue of coalescence; the column settler further comprising an organic outlet [121] above the emulsion inlet [125] and an aqueous outlet [123] below the emulsion inlet [125]; the column settler [120] further discouraging mass transfers within the unstable emulsion phase and further promoting coalescence of each of said stable organic phase and stable aqueous phase. A method of settling two immiscible liquids is further disclosed. The method comprises providing a mixer [110] configured for receiving an organic phase and an aqueous phase; maintaining the organic phase and the aqueous phase in a single unstable emulsion phase using the mixer [110], wherein mass transfer occurs between said organic phase and said aqueous phase; providing a column settler [120] which is configured to receive a single unstable emulsion phase from the mixer [110]; sending the single unstable emulsion phase to the column settler [120]; and separating the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase within the column settler [120] by virtue of coalescence.