US1341686A - Process of extracting platinum and similar metals from their sands and ores - Google Patents

Description

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RUSSELL THAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA;

rnoonss or nx'rnacrme PLATINUM nn SIMILAR METALS FROM THEIR SANDS AND ORES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUssnLL THAYER, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Extracting Platinum and Similar Metals from Their Sands and Ores, whereof the following is a specification.

Under the term similar metals, I include certain rare metals of the so-called platinum group, commonly found in nature associated with platinum, which, although they have a high melting point and high specific gravity, comparable to those of platinum appear to be volatilizable at relatively low temperatures when in a very finely divided, or possibly colloidal, state.

The present invention relates to a process of the same general character as those set forth in my Letters Patent No. 1,273,202, dated July 23, 1918, and No. 1,281,878 and No. 1,281,879, dated October 15, 1918, in that the essential principle of operation depends upon the volatilization of the finely divided metallic particles from the ores or sands, in which said metals are found in nature, in the finely divided, or possibly colloidal state, above referred to.

In carrying out the processes set forth in said Letters Patent respectively and more particularly that of Letters Patent No. 1,281,878, I have found that the treatment may be greatly enhanced by the addition of a certain halogen compounds of the alkaline metals, either alone, or in conjunction with other ingredients, andu-while the process about to be described is comprehended within the description and claims, more particularly, of said Letters Patent No. 1,281,878, it constitutes a specific improvement upon my previous inventions which is important for practical purposes.

The following may be taken as a typical instance of the employment of my present in vention I take a body of platiniferous sand or ore, of such cubic content as to be conveniently treated in a retort of reasonable size, and preferably grind. the material very fine, say about 200 mesh, the degree of fineness, however, depending upon the character of the sands or ore, and the metallic content thereof, since, in many cases only a slight'grinding, or possibly none at all, is necessary to Specification of Letters Patent.

release the metallic, particles from their en velop.

To one dry ton'of 2000 pounds, of such sands, I add a charge whose total is preferably about three per cent., of the ore charge, say sixty pounds, of one or more of the following reagents in a comminuted condition, v1z.calc1um chlorid, sodium chlorid, 0r lluor-spar, or to forty pounds of any one or more of these, twenty pounds of potassium or sodium hydroxid may be advantageously added as an adjunct making a total of sixty pounds. Primarily, however, the present improvements comprise the employment of halogen compound of an alkali metal, those above mentioned being the most economical for commercial purposes.

The added ingredients are thoroughly intermingled with the body of sands, by mechanical means preferably with the addition of water sufficient to moisten the charge throughout.

The mass is then subjected in a retort to the action of heat, preferably from about 900 degrees to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, and

the heating is continued for a period dependent upon the size of the charge and character of the ore and until the volatilization of the metal is effected. Ordinarily, with a charge of the above amount of such sands as are characteristic of the deposit of Herkimer county, New York, two hours of heating will suffice. The effluent end of the retort is connected with a suitable'receptacle in which the volatilized metal is collected, and it is then recovered by any desired means.

Patented J line 1, 1920' Application filed June 26, 1919. Serial no. 306,774.

The foregoing instance of the application of'myinvention is intended to be typical, and not restrictive. Furthermore it must be understood that while I refer to the ore as granular, I employ that term as a convenientone to describe the condition most suitable for treatment, and I include thereby not only material' which in its natural state might be termed granular, but also rock or fragments of substantial size when reduced by grinding, or otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. The herein described process for the recovery of platinum and similar metals from granular ore, which consists in commingling, compound of an alkalimetal; subjecting the charge to the action of heat, whereby the metal is Volatilized and removed from the ore; and collecting the volatilized metal, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein described process for the recovery of platinum and similar metals from granular ore, which consists in commi'ngling, with a charge of ore, a halogen compound of an alkali metal, in conjunction with an alkaline hydroxid; subjecting the charge to the action of heat, whereby the metal is volatilized and removed from the ore; and collecting the volatilized metal, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto l5 signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 24th day of June 1919.

RUSSELL THAYER.

Witnesses I JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.