US727362A - Apparatus for treating ores. - Google Patents

Description

No. 727,362. 'PATBNTED MAY -5, 1903. H. HIRSCHING. APPARATUS FOR TREATING 0113s.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1901'.

N0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES .77

do; K A INVENTOf? H0 MODEL.

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H. HIRSGHING. APPARATUS FOR TREATING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, "1901.

APA'TENTBD MAY. 5,; 190s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIAIIHHIIII :nl lill I I W1 I'I- 1 A 1' W A WITNESSES //V VENTOH Unite STATES Patented May 5, 1903 PATENT FFICE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,362, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed December 10,1901. Serial No. 85,320. (No model.)

.To (bl/T 11.7mm, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HrRsoHINo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Treating Ores, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact. description.

.The object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus for treating ores containing copper, zinc,nickel,silver,'and gold,which apparatus can be successfully employed whether one, part or all of said metals are contained in the ore.

The process which this apparatus is designed to carry out is concerned principally with the extraction of copper from copper ores, but is also applicable for obtaining gold,

silver, nickel, and zinc from their ores and will form the subject of a distinct application for Letters Patent. The process is a combination ammonia process applicable to crude oxidized ores, but also equally effective with refractory ores from which gold, silver, copper, nickel, and zinc could not be obtained satisfactorily by the means hitherto employed. The principle involved is to subject such refractory ores to a preliminary treatment in order to convert the metals and metalcompounds in the ores to metal salts soluble in ammonia and com-pounds thereof. The complex composition of the ore-bodies in nature requires careful study in order to be able to select a proper solvent and to devise proper apparatus for the economical and successful extraction of metals from the gangne. The chemical and physical properties change by the application of heat. One metal becomes a soluble salt, another under like conditions becomes indifierent or insoluble. For this reason no uniform and profitable results could be obtained by means of the processes and apparatus hitherto employed. It is my aim to provide for the thoroughly-tested process described in the specification filed with application bearing Serial No. 75,281 and dated September 13, 190lan apparatus by means of which said process can be economically and profitably carried out on a large scale.

The invention will be fully described here inafter, and the novel features pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a building containing a plant for carrying out my process, and Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the absorption-tan ks forming a part of the apparatus. Fig.3 is an enlarged section of the vessel D, showing metallic plates upon which the precious metals may be deposited.

My apparatus consists, primarily, of two sectionsto wit, a leaching plant and a boiling-ont and distilling plant. The leaching plant serves to extract the metals from the nia-stock-leaching solution both in its liquid and volatilized states and also the metals which have been carried off by the leaching solution after it has been washed out of the leaching-tank.

The leaching plant consists of ore-hoppers A, a stock-solution tank B, a leaching vessel 0, having manholes through which the ore is charged coming from the hoppers A, said leaching vessel being fitted for percolation and, if desired, resting in journals for the purpose of agitation, settlers D, D, and D said settlers being vapor-tight and connected with one another, so that the vapors from the one may pass into the others, and a slimewasher D The boiling-out and distilling plant consists of a quartz-filter E, a still F, a lime-still F, coil-tanks G and G, absorption-tanks H and H, a wash-water tank K, a boiled-out-solution tank L, a hot-water tank M, a dryer N, and an alkali-tank T.

Operatively connected or co-acting with the parts hereinbefore described are a steamboiler O, a cement-trough P, a cement reservoir or basin Q, a pump R, and a steam-engine S. Even though electric or water power he used at least one boiler will be necessary for the distilling portion of the apparatus.

Leaching-plantpipc connections. '1he water-pipe l is connected with any suitable source of cold water and with certain pipes,

to be hereinafter described. The leaching vessel 0 is provided on the manhole side with a valved pipe 2, the ends of which discharge within the said vessel. On the opposite side of the leaching-tank a similar pipe 3 is arranged, the ends of which likewise discharge into the said vessel. The ends of both pipes 2 and 3 can be connected bya hose (not shown) with the valved pipe 4, leading to the stocksolution tank B. Furthermore, said pipes 2 and 3 can be connected, by means of hose,with the valved pipes 5 and (3, leading, respectively, to the wash-water tank K and the boiled-outsolution tank L. By means of the valved pipe 7 the valved pipes 2 and 3 can be connected by hose with the cold-water supply 1. The metal solution of the leaching vessel 0 is discharged after leaching into the settlers D, D, and D through the valved pipes 8 9 10, leading, respectively, to the said settlers. The settler D is connected by a series of superposed valved pipes with the pipe 11, leading to the quartz-filter E. If it be not desired to pass the metal solution of the settlers into the quartz-filter E, the valve of the pipe 11 is closed and the liquid allowed to flow through the pipe 12 to the still F. The quartz-filter E is connected, by means of a valved pipe 13, with the pipe 12, leading to the still F. By means of the valved pipes 14, 15, and 16 the settlers D, D, and D are connected with the slime-washer D After being washed the slimes are discharged to the yard or treated for gold by any practical known process. For the purpose of washing the slimes a valved pipe 17 supplies steam from the boiler O, and valved pipes 18 and 19 supply cold or warm Water, as desired, the valved pipes 17, 18, and 19 and the water-pipe 1 being connected, as shown in Fig. 1.

The pump R, as will be hereinafter more fully shown, serves the purpose of lifting the boiled-out solution from the cement-reservoir Q through the short stand-pipe 20, connected with the valved pipe 21, the boiled-out solution passing throughthe pressure-pipe 22 up into the tank L. The pump likewise serves the purpose of raising the wash-water from the settler D and the slime-washer D to the tank K through the medium of the pipes 23, 21, and 24. For this purpose the wash-water settler D is connected with the slime-washer by means of the valved pipe 25 and the valved pipe 26, one being connected with the other. By manipulating the valves it is evident that the wash-watercan be pumped independently from the settler D or the slime-washer D The alkali-tank T, which forms part of my apparatus, if alkali be used, is connected by a valved pipe 27 with the still F and by a valved pipe 28 with the steam-supply pipe 17, leading to the boiler 0.

It has been discovered that by the boilingout process, especially if hot air is employed, which of course should be avoided, basic cupro-ammonium compounds are formed, which do not readily separate by boiling. I overcome the difficulty to a certain extent by passing condensed ammonia-vapors into the still from the coil-tank G by pipes 34 and 31. The vapors then pass upward through a pipe 48, connected with the coil of the disk G, which coil is connected by a valved pipe 38 with the absorption-tank H and by means of the trap-pipe 38 with the ammonia-stock-solution tank B; but if large quantities are present I obtain immediate results by passing a few pounds of alkali. solution from the tank T at the last stage of the boiling-out process. The separation is rapid and complete. The reaction is as follows:

(GuSO NHQ-I- NaHO:

CuO+HNaS0 +Nl-I Thereby time is saved as well as fuel, and a perfect process is the result.

Boilingbut and distilling plant pipe c0n- 7t6Ctt07L8.-AS will hereinafter more fully appear, the metal solution from the ore-leaching vessel 0, the settler D, and filter-tank E is discharged into the still F, where it is heated, the volatile ammonia being recovered and the metal oxid being deposited in the cone forming the bottom of the still. To separate the stock solution from the oxid, steam is passed into the still F by means of a valved pipe 29, extending downwardly from the steam-pipe 17 to the cone of the still F, the valved pipe 29 being perforated to permit the steam to pass through the metal solution. The vapors thus created pass through a valved pipe 30, leading from the top of the still F. Said valved pipe 30 is connected with the valved pipe 32, extending upward, and with a valved pipe 33, leading from the limestill F, and also with a pipe 31, which is bent to form a trap and is connected with the still F. From the junction of the pipes 31, 32, and 30 a valved pipe 34 extends upwardly, said pipe being bent to form a trap at the junction mentioned. The valved pipe 32 is connected with the coil of the tank G, and the valved pipe 34 is a drain-pipe of the coil of the tank G. The water-compartments of the tanks G and G are respectively connected by valved pipes 35 and 36 with the valved pipe 37, leading to the hot-water tank M, the arrangement of the pipes and valves being such that communication between the tank M and the coil-tanks can be established separately, if it be so desired. The pipe 34 is connected with the lower end of the coil in the tank G, so that vapors passing upwardly through the pipe 32 and condensing in the coil G flow back through the valved pipe 34 to the still F, the uncondensed vapors being prevented from rentering the still by reason of the trap formed at the lower end of the pipe 34:. The vapors then pass upward through a pipe 48, connected with the coil of the tank G, which coil is connected by a valved pipe 38 with the absorption-tank H.

The absorption-tanks H and H consist each of an exterior casing a, an inner casing 12, and an innermost compartment 0 open at the bottom. From the top of the exterior casing a, of the absorption-tank H a valved pipe 39 extends to the bottom of the water-compartment of the coil-tank G. From the bottom of the exterior casing a of the absorptiontank H a pipe 40 extends upwardly to the top of the exterior casing CL of the absorptiontank H. The inner casing b of the absorption-tank H is connected near its top, by means of a valved pipe 41,with the top of the stock-solution tank B. From the bottom of the inner casing h of the absorption-tank H a pipe 42 extends upwardly to communicate with the top of the inner casing 12 of the absorption-tank H. The pipe 38, hereinbefore mentioned, connects the coil of the tank G with the innermost compartment 0 of the absorption-tank H. The inner compartment 1) of the absorption-tank H is connected, by means of a valved pipe 43,with the top of the innermost casing c of the absorption-tank H. Cold water is supplied to both tanks H and H by means of a valved pipe 44, connected with the valved pipe 7, communicating with the pipe 1. The valved pipe 44 is in turn connected with the valved pipe 45, com municating with the pipe 6 of the boiled-out-solution tank L. Instead of two consecutive absorption-tanks three or more or only one can be employed. One absorption tank, if large enough, may answer all purposes. The arrangement of the absorption-tanks,which has been described, is such that the vapors from the coil of the tank G pass down through the innermost casing 0, up through the inner casing b, where they are partially absorbed, through the valved pipe 43, down through the innermost casing c of the absorption-tank H, and up through the inner casing b of the said tank, where the ammonia is completely absorbed, so that only the useless vapors escape finally to the atmosphere. The Water, on the other hand, fiows from pipes l and 7 down into the casing b of the absorption-tank H, thence upwardly and downwardly through the valved pipe 42 into the inner casing b of the absorption-tank H, and finally through the valved pipe 41 into the ammonia-stock-solution tank 13. Thus the absorbing liquid is caused to flow in a direction opposite to that of the ammonia-gas to be absorbed.

In the operation of my apparatus comminuted ore in the crude state or ore that has been subjected to an oxidizing or chlorinating roast, then moistened with acidified water or salt solution, is fed from the hoppers A into the leaching vessel C through the manholes. It chloridized or chlorinated ore is used and precious metals are to be recovered, the leaching vessel 0 and settler D must be lined with lead, as shown in Fig. 3. The ore is leached, depending upon its composition, either by agitation or up and down percolation, which latter is accomplished by connecting either pipe 3 or pipe 2 by hose or stationary pipes with the stock-solution-supply pipe 4 and the other pipes hereinbefore mentioned. The stock solution can be diluted in the manner hereinbefore described by permitting a certain quantity of washwater or boiled-out solution to pass into the leaching vessel 0 through the pipe 5 or 6 or by adding a certain quantity of water to the leaching solution in the vessel 0 by means of the water-supply pipe 7. The am monia-stock solution used is of the constituency specified in the application for the process hereinbefore mentioned. The extraction of the ore having been eifected, the values are discharged into the settlers D, D, and D by means of hose connected with the pipe 2 or the pipe 3 of the leaching vessel and the pipes 8, 9, and 10, leading to the said settlers. By turning the leaching vessel 0 on its axis the tailings are discharged through the manholes and carried away. The settlers may be connected by a pipe with a small absorption vessel, said pipe being provided with acheckvalve communicating with the atmosphere. If clear enough, the metal solution collected in the settlers is allowed to flow directly to the still F through the pipe 12; but it turbid the solution is first passed through the filter E and then through pipes 13 and 12 to the still F. By passing steam through thepipe 29 from the boiler O the metal solution in the still is boiled or heated and the ammonia driven out, while the metal oxid is precipitated in the cone of the still F. rising from the heated solution in the still F pass up through pipe 30 into pipe 32 and enter the upper end of the coil in the tank G. The condensed products flow through the coil and back through the pipe 34 to the still F. The trap at the lower end prevents the return of the vapors into the still, so that the vapors must, therefore, pass upward and through the coil of the tank G. i The condensed vapors which pass downward through the pipe 34 and back into the still F are again subjected to the process of distillation until all the ammonia-gases are finally given off. The products of condensation of the tank G pass into the absorption-tank H, together with the uncondensed vapors. These uncondensed vapors pass down through the innermost casing c of the tank Hand are partially absorbed by the water flowing throughthe inner casing b. The water, with the absorbed vapors, passes into the stock-solution tank B through pipe 41; the unabsorbed vapors pass.

ture of this absorption apparatusthat the cold water obtained from the pipe 7 or the The vapors pipe 45 is caused to flow through both tanks H and H in a direction opposite to the flow of the vapors emerging from the tank G. Thus a complete absorption of the ammoniavapors and recovery thereof is assured,while the valueless and uncondensed vapors are allowed to escape to the atmosphere. The metal solution which was received in the still F is made water-clear by boiling. The boiledout solution is drawn off after settling,

through valved pipe 47, into the cooling-reservoir Q, and the metal oxid, with the remnant of the liquid, is discharged at the bottom of the cone into the trough P, whence the liquid flows through pipe 19 to the reservoir Q. After repeated use the boiled-out solution becomes saturated with ammonia compounds. It is then passed through the valved pipe 46 to the lime-still F, there to be treated with lime and steam to free and recover all the ammonia contained in the compounds. The vapors given 0% pass through the pipe 33 into the pipe 32 and thence to the condensation apparatus. A separate condensation and absorption system could, however, be employed. Through the medium of stand-pipe 20, pipe 21, pump R, and pipe 22 the boiled-out solution is raised from the sump of the cooling-reservoir Q to the boiled-out-solution tank L, from which it can be fed by pipe 45 to the inner casing 19 of tank H. The pipe 45 is connected with the pipe 7, and boiled-out solution or water can be admitted to the casing b of the tank H, so that the degree of concentration of the solution flowing through the pipe 41 .to the stock-solution tank can be regulated. This illustrates one continual use of the boiled-out solution. The boiled-out solution may also be used for the dilution of the metal extraction in the leaching vessel. After a sufficient quantity of metal oxid is collected in trough P it is raked or shoveled out to a drainer and is then dried in the pan N or any other suitable pan by heat obtained from any source. The dried metal oxid is sold as such or is reduced in a furnace, whereby chemically-pure copper ingots are produced ready for the market, since no further refining is necessary. Thus I avoid the use of expensive Bessemer and electrical refining plants, a result which is of the greatest importance for small mining concerns. The slimes collected in the settlers D, D, and D are passed, by way of the discharge-pipes 15, 14, and 16, to the slime-washer D and washed. They are then treated for precious metals by any approved process. For the purpose of washing the slimes pipe 17 supplies steam from the boiler O, and pipes 18 and 19, respectively, supply hot and cold water, as may be desired.

, The settler D can be used for the recovery of gold and silver from auriferous and argentiferous copper ores and is for this purpose to be lined with aleaden jacket 50. (Shown more particularly in Fig. 3.) The chlorids formed by a chlorinating roast or chloridizing process are first dissolved by water and then passed from the lead-lined leaching vessel into the settler D from below. During the period of settling copper plates 51 52 may be hungin the solution, upon which copper plates the precious metals are deposited by galvanic or electric action. The copper held in solution is recovered by the boiling-out process previously described. The settler D is provided with a filter 53, located below the upper outlet of this settler. The structure of this filter is so primitive and well known that it appears unnecessary to further detail it in a drawing, and the simple indication with a dotted line in settler D should be sufficient. To the staves of this filter I attach copper wires or I provide a few books on top cover, but inside on both the settlersD and D, and hang to them copper plates. By allowing contact of the solution with the plates the silver is precipitated as cement-silver, and even gold, if anyis in solution, will be recovered. However, as all the gold is precipitated by the subsequent addition of ammonia to the wash solution the recovery of the precious metals by the copper plates in settlers D (gold-tank of the process) is regarded as a partial one. In settlers D, where more time of contact is allowed, the balance of the silver is recovered as cement-silver out of the copper-ammonium solution. A high extraction of gold from the ore is only then possible if a complete chlorination or chloridizing has been carried out. Otherwise the greater part of the gold remains in the ore-body, but fortunately in such a condition that it can easily be recovered by a cyanid solution after the ore has been treated with ammonia. The copper is thus dissolved, and the solution passes clear and pure through the filter into the settler D. The hydrated ferric oxid and gold thereby precipitated are retained in the settler D. After washing and dividing the concentrated solution and wash-water solution judiciously between settlers D and D the slimes are discharged into the slimewasher D to be treated in the usual manner.

The valves 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, and 62 are for convenience in handling the solution and vapors thereof. An extra pipe 64, provided with a valve 63, may be used for the addition of any desired substances to the solution in settler D without disturbing the pipe 8.

Wash-Water is pumped to the tank K from the settler D or the slime-washerD by means of pipes 23 and 24. For this purpose the settler D and the slime-washer D are connected by pipes 25 and 26.

In order to reduce the cooling-water to a minimum, it will be observed that the watercompartments of the tanks G and G are respectively connected by the pipes 35 and 36 with the pipe 37, leading to the hot-water tank M, and that the tank G is connected near its bottom, by means of the pipe 39, with the exterior casing a of the tank H, which ICO IIO

casing a is in turn connected by the pipe 40 with the exterior casing a of the tank H. By reason of this arrangement water is allowed to flow through the pipe 1, the pipe 7, the exterior casing a of the tank H, the pipe 40, the exterior casing a of the tank H, the pipe 89, the water-compartment of the tank G, the pipe 36,the water-compartment of the tank G, and the pipe 35 to the hot-Water tank M,

the Water becoming heated by contact with the absorbing Vessels and coils of the tanks as it flows through them. The cooling of the absorption compartments may be accomplished by water-coils passing therethrough instead of employing inclosing cooling-compartments.

For economical purposes it may be necessary to use more than one still F. If three stills second still is boiled out, the'third still becomes the initial still and the second the terminal still. For smaller plants a system of two stills worked alternately as the initial still can be economically employed. Instead of live steam exhaust-steam eventually of increased back pressure can be utilized. The steam may be sent directly into the liquid of the stills or through drums or coils in the interior of the stills. In the case of live steam the condensed Water fiows back into the boiler if the latter be low enough for the drainage of the drums or coils in the still; otherwise the Water of condensation must be pumped back into the boiler.

I have shown the various parts which comprise my apparatus disposed on the several floors of a building. I'do not limit myself to this arrangement, for it is evident that the various tanks and stills and other apparatus can be placed on one fioor or on any number of doors.

The apparatus described affords all the necessary means for the manufacture of aquaammonia from any source, and thus will produce at a low figure the ammonia necessary for the operation of the plant.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a still, a lime-still, a tank containing a condensingcoil, an absorption-tank for vapors, a stock-v solution tank, a water-tank, and a boiler to supply heat to the first-mentioned still, the so-produced vapors from the still being partially condensed in the coil-tank, and the vapors not condensed therein being absorbed in the said absorption-tank, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substan tially as described.

2. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a still, a lime-still, a condenser and communicating means between the condenser and the firstmentioned still and between the condenser and the second-mentioned still, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substantially as described.

3. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a still, a condenser containinga coil, and pipes extending from the terminals of the said coil and communicating with the said still, the one pipe serving to conduct the vapors from the still to the coil, and the other pipe serving to conduct the products of condensation from the coil to the still, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substantially as described.

4. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a condenser containing a coil, absorption-tanks communicating with the coil of the condenser, a Watertank for the absorption-tanks, and a stocksolution tank communicating with the absorption-tanks, the water flowing from the water-tank through the absorption-tanks to the stock-solution tank in one direction, and the vapors from the coil of the condenser passingthrough the absorption-tanks in the opposite direction, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substantially as described.

5. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a still, a condenser containing a coil, a stock-solution tank, and an absorption-tank, said absorption-tank consisting of an outer casing oommunicating with a cooling-water tank, an inner casing spaced from the outer casing and communicating with the stock-solution tank, and an innermost casing spaced from the inner casing and communicating with the coil of the condenser, whereby the vapors and fluid emerging from the coil are caused to fioW through the innermost casing and through the absorption-water, and the absorption-wa ter is caused to flow through the inner casing to the stock-solution tank, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substant-ially as described.

6. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a still, a

condenser consisting of a water-compartment and a coil, a hot-water tank communicating with the water-compartment of the con denser, and a cold-water tank communicating with the water-compartment of the condenser, by which communicating pipes the cold water is caused to flow from the cold water tank through the condenser, around the coil andto the hot-water tank, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substantially as described.

7. An ore-treating apparatus including a slime-washer, settlers connected with the slime-washer, a hot-water tank, a cold-Water tank, a wash-water tank and a steam-generator, and means whereby hot or cold water or Wash-water or steam may be charged into the slime-washer.

S. An ore-treating apparatus including a leaching vessel, a settler, a filter, a still, a

steam-boiler, and an alkali-tank connected with the steam-boilerand still, said parts being connected together by means of pipes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY- HIRSOHING.

Witnesses:

CHARLES WILLIAM HENDEL, FRANK TEICHMANN.

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