US826435A - Extracting metals by electrolytic means from ores. - Google Patents

Description

No. 826,435. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

A A. LE'NET, JR. l Y EXTEAGTIG METALS EY ELEGTROLYTIG MEANS EEOM GEES.

-APPLYIOATION IkILED AUG. 18,1905.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET 2` No. 826,4355 PATENTBD JULY. 17, 1906.` A. LE'NA'RmJR. f EXTRAGTING METALS BY ELBGTROLYTIG 'ME APPLIATION'FILED AUG'. 1B, 1905.

ANS PROM GRES.

's SHEETS-SHEET 4 Noz 826,435.

EXTRAGTING MB @Q2/M@ l PATNTED JULY 174, 1906.

1 ,-A. LNART; iR. TALS BY BLEGTROLYTIG. MEANS PROM GRES..

'APPLICATION PILD'AUG.18,1905. I

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED srArns PATENT OFFICE.

AnxAnnER LNART, JR., oF BUDAPEST, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY'.

' ExmACTmeMTALs BY ELEornoLYTlc MEANS FROM oREs.

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vented certain new. and useful mprovements in Extracting Metals by Electrolytic Means' from Ores and other Metalliferous Substances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled'in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the samef" My'invention relates to a process and apparatus for extracting `metals b meansof acid radicals which are evolved 1n the elec-I trolysis of alkali salts', more particularly `of alkali chlorid'sythe `electrolyte at the cathode being separated by a diaphragm from the other fiuid in order to allow of the products of the electrolysis which collect at the cath- 'ode being removed separately.

This 'improved apparatus differs from .those in general use in that the current is not 'passedthrough the material to be extracted, [but that the chamber in vwhich the elec- Ftrolysis is carried out is arranged beneath the chamber which serves for the extraction and is separated therefrom b a permeable floor, `so that the cathodes an -anodes may be arranged in direct proximity to one another. In the electrolyzing-chamber, therefore,

i. merelyl a decomposition of the electrolyte takes place in the sense that the cationsthat is, the alkali-formed inside the diaphragms arewithdrawn from the bath, while the anions--that is to say, the acid radicals;

are carried upward into the extractionchamber by the flowing anode fluid and dissolve the metal while traversing the layers of the material to be extracted. The electrodes,

which are uniformly distributed in largel numbers under the floor carrying the layers of ore, are arranged in such a way that they do not impede the upward ow of the electrolyte.

In the process it is of particular importance that the flowing electrolyte should first pass over the anodes and only afterward over the diaphragms containing the cathodes, so that the electrolyte is already so far satu- `rated with the acid anions before reaching the diaphragms that the lye diffused through the latter cannot precipitate the metals as hydrate or oxychlorid from the electrolyte, which during the preceding. circulation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application and August 1a, 1905. serai No. 274,721.

Patented J uly 17, 1906.

through the extraction apparatus has absorbed metallic salts.

The advantages of this apparatus consist in the resistance of the cells being greatly reduced, as the electrodes may be arranged in direct proximity to one another and the.

current has not to pass through the layers of ore, in .the anions evolved being -utilized as fully as possible, because on the one hand the electric resistance of the layersof ore does not come in question, and thus the thickness of thelayers maybeincreased according to requirements, and, on the other hand, any unconsumed chlorin can freely escape and be further utilized-for instance, for producing chlorid of lime, h drochloric acid, or the like. The formation of asic metallic deposits in the cells is also avoidedkand,\finally, by the sep avration of theextraction-chamber from the electrolyzin -chamber the introduction ofthe material an the removal of the residuals may be effected without th'e slightest interruption Y of the electrolyzing apparatus, and damage to the electrodes'and diaphragms by the ore is entirely avoided.

The apparatus will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the apparatus; Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3, a side view, on a reduced scale, from the side at which the cathode fluid is introduced; and Fig. 4, a side view, on a reducedl scale, from the side at which' -the alkali hydrate formed is discharged. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, on a reduced scale, on the line A B of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a detail showing a section, on larger scale, of the head-piece'of a diaphragm-tube.

The trough serving for the electrolysis is made of impermeable and acid-resisting material-l-for instance, beton, or wood, ma'- som'y, or the like, impregnated with asphaltum and the like. In the .form of construction shown the floor C consists of beton and'the sides I) of brick masonry with iron ties passed through the masonry, which form above. and below, with frames of iron or wood, a solid'scaffolding or skeleton for the masonry in order to increase the resistance to lateral pressure of the thin walls. In accordance with `the invention the trough is divided into an upper and under chamber by means of a false bottom E, provided with holes a, and preferably horizontal and formed in the drawings as a vault.

The chamber F under the perforated bot- IOO IIO

forms the electrolyzing or decompos- .ing chamber, whileY the upper chamber H isv .the extracting or dissolving chamber into `which the material (not shown.) to be eX- ment, asbestos, parchment, or nitrated cotton Tl'ie diaphragm-tubes at the ends, which' chntain the connections for the cathodes, are carried Separately through the walls of the trough or pan and tightly packed by means V of suitablehead-pieces g, which project to the' Outside and are separately connected with tracted yis charged.

Preferably tubular diaphragms (Z of alkaliresisting material-such, for instance, as cefabrie-are arranged either horizontally or obliquely. in the decomposing-chamber F.

VVVithiIi the diaphragm-tubes Vthe cathodechambers are formed, which contain the cath-l "odes'hereinafter described.

the alkali-hydrate collector I by means of connection pipes or pieces m, with the object that each diaphragm-'tube may be sepag rately watched and changed in case of need.

The' other'ends of the diaphragm-tubes are connected by means of T-shaped tubes fin groups in order to diminish the discharge places in the walls. It would not, however, vbe of advantage to feed all the diaphragmy tubes through a common feed-tube as 1t is essential that the flow .of the fluid' through all the cathode-chambers should take place as uniformly as possible. Both the feedtubes f and the head-pieces g must be made of alkali-resisting material, preferably earthenware. The diaphragm-tubes are when being constructed first cemented in'to the headpieces g, then inserted in the pan, after which the lowerends, which are accessible through group, and adjoining them arc, in this instance, twelve anode-plates. The anodes arranged under the diaphragm-tubes in the first group and the diaphragms arranged over .the anodes shown are omitted for the sake of clearness. The importance 4of this arrangement for the process consists in that if, for instance, copper be dissolved by means of chlorin the anode electrolyte while flowing from below upward encounters Vfirst the anodes, absorbing from these so. much chlorin that while'it passes in front of the diay phragms, through whlch always some alkali diffused, neither copper oxychlorid nor'.

copper hydrate can be precipitated from the already cupreous electrolyte. The eathodes h, which are preferably formed of nickel or iron wire or strips, are arranged in the diaphragm-tubes. Pieces of metal, preferably copper bars tightly packed in the branch mouths i of the caps g, serve for conveying the current and are connected with the collecting-bar M. The dissolving-chamber G of the'apparatus is filled with ore H, which is t0 be treated, which rests onl the perforated floor E. In the upp'er part of thedissolvingchamber pipes l are arranged, which serve for carrying off the metallic-salt solution obtained. Tubular nozzles L, opening into the lower part of the dissolving-chamber, serve for sluicing out the residuals. y

Fig. 1 shows a cover N, the edges of which dip into the fluid close to` the walls of the trough, and thereby form a gas-ti ht joint. The cover may be lifted or'raised by means` of chains andpulleys or the like and serves for collecting and carrying olf 4the unconsumed gaseous acid radicals-for instance, chlorin gas. The perforated floor Eis coated with a permeable acid-resisting filtering layer-for instance, asbestos cloth-in order to prevent the ore dust fallin through into the electrolyzinff-chamber or tie stoppage of the holes of the false bottom E.

Fig, 6 shows the head-piece ofthe diaphragm-tubes on a larger scale; The arlrangement of these head-piecesallows the dia'- phragIn-tubes to fit tightly into the aperture of the wall of the trough and to remove vsaid tubes readily; further, to change, if necessary, easily the cathodes. The head-piece g is `ittedfwith india-rubber washers c', insuring a water-tight closure between the headpiece and the aperture of the wallof the trough. The head-piece is further provided with a shouldered recess g', in which the diaphragm-tubesare fitted by means .of any suitable stuffing material. On the yfree endthe head-piece is widened at g2 andfis formedv with a lateral tubular projection e2, through which passes a bolt i', preferably of, copper,

bearing on its inner end the connection-piece j', preferably of iron or nickel, projecting out of the mouth of the head-piece The cathode is fastenedin any suitable way-for example, by means of screws and soldering-ato lthat projecting end ofthe connection-piece y. Washers 7c and a nut g" serve for -:tightlening the bolt. t" in the opening e2. .How-

ever, the boltfi may be tightened in any suitable manner. The flange-f servesto conthe alkali vessel.

` The Working ofthe apparatus is as follows: The anode fluid, which at the commencement ofthe operation consists of an alkalineet the head-pieces to the tubes leading to. l

salt solution, but afterward of a mixture of this salt solution with the metallic-salt sojlu- ISO rial, under the anodes in the decomposingchamber F. While the electrolyte flowing ulpward passes over the anodes, it absorbs t e chlorm-and carries this with it over the a ertures A of the separating-floor E into tllie dissolving-chamber G, saturates the layer of ore uniformly, dissolves its metallic contents, and leaves the apparatus through .the pipes Z, after which the solution, according to the circumstances of working, is either immediately freed from inetalsand froml herepasses back into the electroly'zing-chamber of Ithe apparatus or the electrolyte is passed several times through the extracting apparatus g beforebeing freed from metals until the desired salts contents is reached. The alkali- -salt solution forming the cathode fluid passes 4 the caps g and connect-ions m into the collect- -drate and ing vessel I, which is separate from the dissolving apparatus and is preferably of iron. In this vessel I the hydrogen gas collects in the gas-chamber n, While the fluid freed from gas flows into the chamber l0. .The chamber o is at the upper endl of the discharge-pipeq provided with a gas-separator p, formed 1n such a way that the level of the fluid in the same is approximately equal to that of the anode electrolytes in the dissolving-chamberthat is to say, with the level of the diskcharge-pipes l. The mixture of alkali hyalkali-salt solution flows out through the discharge-pipe q and the closingtap r, or in order to pass directly into the apparatu's for separating its content of salts the ydrogen gas is carried off from the gaschamber through the aperture s and utilized in any suitable way. When the ore is extraeted to the desired extent,ithe anode fluid is let oif from the pan through the pipes c and the cathode fluid through Ithe pipes f, after which the gases are drawn off, whereupon the residues from the extraction-chamber may bewashed out through the nozzles L. The residues are in the ordinary way conveyed to the tip.

VHaving thus described one embodiment of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for extracting metals from ores and other metalliferous substances, consisting of an upper chamber to receive the ore to be treated, a lower chamber, a permeable false bottom between the upper' and lower chamber, electrodes ofboth poles arproduced acid radical-for instance,

ranged in said lower chamber, diaphragme surrounding the cathodes, means for connecting the cathodes and anodes to the poles of a source of electrical energy, and means to feed into and to discharge the cathode electrolyte from the diaphragms. f.

2. An ap aratus for extracting metals from ores and otlier' metall-iferous substances', consisting of' anv upper chamber tov receive the ore to be treated, a lower chamber, a permeable false bottom between the upper and lower chamber,`electrodes .of both. poles arranged in said lower chamber, diaphragms surrounding the cathodes, means for connecting the cathodes and anodes to the poles of a source of electrical energy, means to feed into. and to discharge the cathode electrolyte from the diaphragms, and means to'feed the anode electrolyte into the lower chamber.

3. An apparatus for extracting metals from ores and other metalliferous substances, consisting of an upperv chamber serving for receiving theore to be treated, a lower chamber, a permeable false bottom between the upper and lower chamber, electrodes of both poles arranged in said lower chamber, diaphragms surrounding the cathodes, means for connecting said cathodes and anodes to the poles of an electric-current source, means to feed into and to discharge the cathode electrolyte 'from said diaphragms, means to feed the anode electrolyte into the lower chamber and means to discharge the anodic electrolyte from the upper chamber.

4. An apparatus for extracting metals from ores and other metalliferous substances, consisting of an upper chamber serving for receiving the ore to be treated, a lower chamber, a substantially horizontal permeable false bottom between the upper and lower chamber, anodes of insoluble material in the lower chamber, distributed uniformly under.

said diaphragme, and means to withdraw the electrolyte from the top of the upper chamber.

5. An apparatus for extracting metals from ores and other metalliferous substances, consisting of an upper chamber serving for receivmg the ore to be treated, a lower chamber, a substantially horizontal permeable i false bottom between the upper and lower chamber, a'nodes of insoluble material in the lower chamber distributed uniformly under the permeable bottom, there being apertures on said anode-plates allowing a free passage IOO IIO

i to the anode electrol te, inlets for thislatthr uniformly distribute under'the anode-plates,

. a plurality of tubular diaphragms" in the lowerl chamberf arra'liiged in proximity vof the anodes and forming a grate covering the whole area correspondnglto the permeable bottom, cathodes extending through said tubular dia hragms, an alkali-collecting Vessel, means or connectingoneend of's'aid't'ubular diaphragme with the alliali-dolle'ctin Vessel, a cathode-electrolyte' conduit, an means for' connectin' 'tlie' other' eiid of the diaphragm-tubeswiththec'atliode-eledtiolyte conduit. I

6. An apparatus for extracting meta'ls'ibm ores and other metalliiierbus"sribsft'an'ces",4 con'- sisting of an up'p'erchamber servin'gfor re'- ceiving the ore to be treated', a2 ldwer cham.- ber, a substantially lior'izn't'al permeable false bottom between' the'V upper and lower chamber, anodes of insoluble mat arial in tle lower chamber distributed' uniformly under the permeable bottbm' provided with ap'er'- tures allowing the' free' ",a'ssag'e'a to the anode electrolyte, inlets 'for' distributed under`` the`,anodefplates, a'plurality of tubulardiaphraglmsin the lower` chamber arranged `in proximity-of the anodes and forming an inclinedl grate covering the Wliole,

area corres on'd'ing to the permeable bottom and risinglgrri-tle' feed-end'toward the discharge end, catll'odesex't'nding'through said diaphragms, an alkali-collecting vessel, means for connectin lone end of said diaphragm# tubes4 with t "e alkali-'collecting vessel, Aa cathode-electrolyte" conduit; an'd means for connecting the otherend of the diaphragmtubes with the cathode-elect'rclyte conduitl 7. An apparatus fr'ex'tactiig' metals r'om ores and other'metalliferu's substances, cony sisting of an upper chamber'serying for'receiving the ore to be treated, a lowerchamber, a substantially horizontal permeable false bottom between the upperl and' lower chamber, `anodes of insoluble material in the lower chamber distributed uniformly under the permeable bottom providedwith aperLA whole. area correspondin tothe permeable Y bottom and rising from t e -feedfenfc'l toward the dischargepend, lthe tubular"diaphragms being inserted or'tlie" one end separately'and comi'eoted on the other end" in" groups by means ofA feeding-tubes, cathodes" extmd'i'n'g ectin' through said diaphragins, an alkali-co1 vessel, means for connecting'olie e'dof'sai diaphragm-tube with the alkaliic'olle'cting.

Vessel, a clatliodeee'le'ctrolyte' codit, aiid means for'cormectin" the otherfend of the diaphragmit'ubes wit the cathode-electro',- ly'te conduit'.

8; In an acpparat'us ofthe kindv described I embodying iaphragnitubes', a headipiec'e for the diaphragm-tubesprovided -with a lat# eral tubular'prcj'ectidn, a bolt" tightlyttn in said tubular projection, a" contactipi'ece se'- collecting yess'el, means for"connectin`g thel one end of the head-piece a `diaphfag'in tube and thev other end with a connection leading to the alkalicollecting vessel. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature to this specification" in the presenc'of tw'o Witnesses.

' Witnesses: v l v EUGENE HARsAIGE, CHARLES E. BALTzo.

ALEXANER IJNRT, JN'. y

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