WO2011150984A1 - Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore - Google Patents
Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2011150984A1 WO2011150984A1 PCT/EP2010/064678 EP2010064678W WO2011150984A1 WO 2011150984 A1 WO2011150984 A1 WO 2011150984A1 EP 2010064678 W EP2010064678 W EP 2010064678W WO 2011150984 A1 WO2011150984 A1 WO 2011150984A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- ore
- ore particles
- electrolytic bath
- bath
- noble metals
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25C1/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of solutions
- C25C1/20—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of solutions of noble metals
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B11/00—Obtaining noble metals
- C22B11/04—Obtaining noble metals by wet processes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore.
- the present invention relates in particular to a method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts by disintegration of ore using nontoxic processes.
- Electrochemistry - has a high recovery rate of up to 98% but is a slow
- An aim of the present invention is thus to propose an industrially applicable method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore allowing for a high recovery rate.
- Another aim of the present invention is to propose an industrially applicable and economical method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore
- Still another aim of the present invention is to propose an industrially applicable method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore that doesn't use nor produce any toxic substance.
- a method for the recovery of noble metals comprising the steps of subjecting ore particles to an electrolytic bath enhanced by an ultrasonic bath, the electrolytic bath comprising heavy and/or semi-heavy water; shock heating the ore particles for disintegrating them; and separating noble metals from the remains of said disintegrated ore particles.
- the method of the invention for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore is economical applicable at an industrial scale. Experiments have shown that it has a typical recovery rate of 95 to 99.9%. No toxic substance is used or produced during any step of the method.
- Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an electrolytic bath placed inside an ultrasonic bath for performing a step of the method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a crucible placed in a microwave oven for performing another step of the method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a cone shaped container placed in an ultrasonic bath for performing still another step of the method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- the method of the invention for the recovery of noble metals and other byproducts from ore preferably comprises the following steps:
- the ore is prepared for the following steps of the method, which includes crushing the ore to particles of a target mean size; the preliminary step uses for example commonly known mechanical techniques for crushing the ore;
- the crushed ore is placed in an electrolytic bath that is placed in an ultrasonic bath; as explained below, the substances necessary for performing the next step of the method are produced by the electrolytic bath and penetrate into the macro and micro pores of the ore with the help of the ultrasonic bath;
- the ore is disintegrated using shock heating, preferably microwave shock heating;
- the noble metals are then recovered from the disintegrated ore, using preferably an ultrasonic induced gravity separation process.
- the method of the invention for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore is preferably performed on small particles of crushed ore.
- the ore is thus crushed down to a predetermined target particle size, which participates to an increased efficiency of the next steps of the method of the invention for maximizing the recovery rate achieved with the method of the invention.
- the target size for the ore particles is preferably smaller than or equal to 590 microns (30 US Mesh), more preferably smaller than or equal to 420 microns (40 US Mesh), even more preferably smaller than or equal to 250 microns (60 US Mesh). Crushing of the ore is performed using any appropriate, preferably mechanical, method.
- the crushed ore is further centrifuged in order to create micropores and/or cracks or macropores in the ore particles and/or in order to further open micropores and/or cracks or macropores made in the ore particles during crushing.
- the preferably crushed ore is placed in an electrolytic bath and simultaneously submitted to ultrasounds.
- the ore particles are placed in two ore containers 30 that are immersed at a distance from each other in an electrolytic bath 1.
- the external walls of the ore containers 30 are preferably permeable to the ions of the electrolytic bath.
- the external walls of the containers 30 are made of a microporous nylon membrane.
- the ore containers 30 are preferably cone shaped for an improved efficiency of the method of the invention. Other shapes are however possible within the frame of the invention.
- An electrode 3 is located in each ore container 30.
- the electrodes 3 are electrically connected to a source of electrical power, which is not represented on the figures.
- the electrodes 3 are for example made of titanium or nickel and preferably have both the same shape and size.
- the electrodes 3 are preferably metallic rods that are located vertically along the central axis of their respective ore container 30. Other shapes and configurations of the electrodes are however possible within the scope of the invention.
- Each electrode may for example comprise several branches that are spread within their respective ore container.
- the electrolytic bath 1 is placed in an ultrasonic bath 2, in which ultrasounds are generated that propagate through the walls of the electrolytic bath container 10 and into the electrolytic bath 1.
- the temperature of the ultrasonic bath 2 is preferably around eighty degrees Celsius.
- the composition of the electrolytic bath 1 preferably includes heavy and/or semi- heavy water, such as for example deuterium or tritium.
- the concentration of heavy and/or semi-heavy water in the electrolytic bath 1 is for example between 2 to 5 percents.
- the composition of the ultrasonic bath 2 is for example essentially water and/or any liquid in which ultrasounds efficiently propagate.
- the ultrasounds are preferably generated by one or more ultrasonic transducers located preferably inside the ultrasonic bath container 20, which are not shown on the figures for the sake of readability and conciseness.
- the electrolytic processing of the ore is initiated by applying direct current (DC) voltage to the electrodes 3, for example six volts DC voltage with a current density of six amperes per square decimeter (A/dm 2 ).
- DC direct current
- One of the electrodes 3 becomes the anode, while the other electrode 3 becomes the cathode.
- the polarity of the DC voltage is inversed at regular intervals in order to submit the ore contained in both ore containers 30 to the same treatment, i.e. to the same polarities for equivalent periods of time.
- the DC voltage is for example applied to the electrodes 3 for a total of two hours, divided in four cycles of thirty minutes each. After each cycle of thirty minutes, the polarity of the DC voltage is changed, i.e. after each cycle of thirty minutes, the cathode becomes the anode and vice versa.
- chlorine and other gases and/or soluble salts are produced near the anode, which penetrate the ore particles contained in the corresponding ore container 30. These gases and/or soluble salts will participate to the disintegration of the ore particles in a next step of the method.
- reactive metal chlorides for example sodium, calcium, potassium, etc.
- Alkaline reactions then take place near the cathode, which generates an at least partial disintegration the ore particles contained in the corresponding ore container 30.
- the ultrasonic bath 2 enhances the penetration of the substances produced near the cathode into the macro- and micropores of the ore particles contained in the corresponding ore container 30.
- free hydrogen atoms are absorbed by platinum group metals (PGM) present in the ore particles, whereas this absorption is drastically increased by the ultrasonic bath 2.
- PGM platinum group metals
- the electrolytic processing of the ore particles enhanced by the ultrasonic bath 2 and preferably comprising a number of alternated cycles, cleans and fills the macro- and micropores of the ore particles with substances generated in the electrolytic bath 1 , thereby preparing the ore particles for a next step of the method of the invention.
- the prepared ore particles which were submitted to the electrolytic bath enhanced by ultrasonic bath in a previous step of the method, are placed in a crucible 5.
- the crucible 5 is preferably made of magnetite powder and fire clay.
- the crucible 5 containing the ore particles is introduced into an oven 4, preferably a microwave oven, for shock heating of the ore particles, i.e. the ore particles are subjected to a very fast and important temperature increase.
- the temperature of the ore particles is for example elevated to a temperature between 200 and 300°C within 60 to 180 seconds, preferably to 250°C within 120 seconds.
- Shock heating of the ore particles is preferably performed in a microwave oven. Submitting the prepared ore particles to high power microwave radiations provokes high excitation of the heavy, semi-heavy and light water molecules in the ore particles, thereby rapidly increasing their temperature. Other technologies are however possible within the frame of the invention for shock heating the ore particles.
- the PGM also release the previously absorbed hydrogen at a high pressure, which also participates to the disintegration of the ore particles and to the release of nanoparticles of noble metals.
- reactive metal chlorides were used in the electrolytic bath, then, during shock heating, different salts, including for example bicarbonates, and alkalines which have dissolved in the electrolyte bath and have penetrated the macro- and micropores of the ore particles react with ore substances causing various chemical reactions. As a result of these chemical reactions, some ore substances become soluble, thereby further participating to the disintegration of the ore and the release of noble metals.
- the shock microwave heating process for example lasts fifteen minutes at a microwave frequency of 2.45 GHz, the input power of the microwave radiation depending on the quantity of ore particles in the oven.
- the disintegrated ore particles and the released nanoparticles are submitted to a next step of separation of noble metals from the remaining ore, preferably to a mechanical step of separation.
- This step of separation according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated in Fig. 3.
- the step of separation uses gravity separation enhanced by ultrasounds.
- the disintegrated ore preferably together with the remaining content of the crucible used for shock heating, is put into a preferably cone shaped container 7 made of a permeable material, for example a microporous nylon membrane.
- the filled cone shaped container 7 is placed into an ultrasonic bath 6, preferably with its tip oriented towards the ground, for an ultrasonic induced gravity separation of the noble metals. Under the effect of the ultrasonic waves, the content of the container 7 is slightly agitated, and the noble metals and other by products tend to sink to the tip of the container 7, while the remains of the disintegrated ore particles are pushed towards the top.
- separation technologies preferably mechanical technologies, are however possible within the frame of the invention.
- separation of noble metals and other byproducts from the remains of the disintegrated ore particles is made through centrifugation of the crucible's content. Separation can also be performed with the help of electrostatic, magnetic and/or chemically-based techniques.
- the remaining liquid from the electrolytic bath 1 and from the ultrasonic bath 6 and also the sludge, i.e. the remains of the disintegrated ore particles, are preferably tested for the presence of noble metals that are for example collected, i.e. separated, using similar or other separation techniques.
- the method of the invention for the recovery of noble metals and other byproducts by disintegration of ore using nontoxic multi-step processing allows for a very high recovery rate (95 - 99.9%) and does not use any toxic substances like cyanide or mercury, thereby being environmentally friendly.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN2010800676122A CN102947472A (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
CA2800694A CA2800694A1 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
EA201291166A EA201291166A1 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | METHOD OF EXTRACTION OF NOBLE METALS AND OTHER OWNTIME PRODUCTS FROM ORE |
US13/701,245 US20130146477A1 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
EP10760350.8A EP2576850B1 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
AU2010354435A AU2010354435A1 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
ZA2012/08874A ZA201208874B (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2012-11-26 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP10164665.1 | 2010-06-01 | ||
EP10164665 | 2010-06-01 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2011150984A1 true WO2011150984A1 (en) | 2011-12-08 |
Family
ID=42989639
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2010/064678 WO2011150984A1 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2010-10-01 | Method for recovering noble metals and other byproducts from ore |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130146477A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2576850B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102947472A (en) |
AP (1) | AP2012006649A0 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2010354435A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2800694A1 (en) |
EA (1) | EA201291166A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011150984A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA201208874B (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2907899A1 (en) * | 2014-05-30 | 2015-08-19 | Nicolae Costache | Method and reactor for recovering metal and nonmetal elements from objects comprising metal and organic compounds |
WO2023175570A1 (en) * | 2022-03-16 | 2023-09-21 | Flsmidth A/S | System and method for controlling or removing hard deposits on electrowinning cathodes |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4139432A (en) * | 1976-08-16 | 1979-02-13 | Ghiringhelli Hugh A | Process for electrochemically recovering precious metals from ores |
US4980134A (en) * | 1985-09-10 | 1990-12-25 | Action Gold Development Ltd. | Leaching process |
RU2263152C1 (en) | 2004-04-29 | 2005-10-27 | Галайко Владимир Васильевич | Method of extraction of gold at hydromechanized mining of sands of clay placers and oxide-bearing nodular ores of weathering crust |
WO2010057329A1 (en) | 2008-11-18 | 2010-05-27 | Rb Ingeniería Ltda. | Sonoelectrochemical processing of metal sulphide concentrates |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB497835A (en) * | 1937-05-21 | 1938-12-21 | William Henry Vale Junior | A process for the separation of metals or metal compounds |
US3772003A (en) * | 1972-02-07 | 1973-11-13 | J Gordy | Process for the electrolytic recovery of lead, silver and zinc from their ore |
CA1198080A (en) * | 1981-04-15 | 1985-12-17 | Freeport Minerals Company | Simultaneous leaching and electrodeposition of precious metals |
US4382845A (en) * | 1981-08-10 | 1983-05-10 | Chevron Research Company | Selective electrowinning of palladium |
US4406752A (en) * | 1981-11-12 | 1983-09-27 | General Electric Company | Electrowinning of noble metals |
GB8720279D0 (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1987-10-07 | Tetronics Res & Dev Co Ltd | Recovery of gold |
CN1194109C (en) * | 2002-05-20 | 2005-03-23 | 严卓理 | Supersonic pre-treatment process of refractory gold ore containing As.S. etc. |
CN1304612C (en) * | 2005-09-01 | 2007-03-14 | 徐致钢 | Process for extracting platinum metals from ore containing platinum metal |
WO2007119239A2 (en) * | 2006-04-17 | 2007-10-25 | E.R.S. Ltd. | Method for extracting metals from ore |
CA2595275A1 (en) * | 2007-08-22 | 2009-02-22 | David Pearce | The sequential lixivation and precipitation of metals from refractory ores by utilising variable oxidation reduction potentials and a variable ph system |
US9512012B2 (en) * | 2007-12-08 | 2016-12-06 | Comsats Institute Of Information Technology | Sonoelectrolysis for metal removal |
-
2010
- 2010-10-01 AU AU2010354435A patent/AU2010354435A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-10-01 EA EA201291166A patent/EA201291166A1/en unknown
- 2010-10-01 EP EP10760350.8A patent/EP2576850B1/en active Active
- 2010-10-01 WO PCT/EP2010/064678 patent/WO2011150984A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-10-01 US US13/701,245 patent/US20130146477A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-10-01 CA CA2800694A patent/CA2800694A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-10-01 CN CN2010800676122A patent/CN102947472A/en active Pending
- 2010-10-01 AP AP2012006649A patent/AP2012006649A0/en unknown
-
2012
- 2012-11-26 ZA ZA2012/08874A patent/ZA201208874B/en unknown
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4139432A (en) * | 1976-08-16 | 1979-02-13 | Ghiringhelli Hugh A | Process for electrochemically recovering precious metals from ores |
US4980134A (en) * | 1985-09-10 | 1990-12-25 | Action Gold Development Ltd. | Leaching process |
RU2263152C1 (en) | 2004-04-29 | 2005-10-27 | Галайко Владимир Васильевич | Method of extraction of gold at hydromechanized mining of sands of clay placers and oxide-bearing nodular ores of weathering crust |
WO2010057329A1 (en) | 2008-11-18 | 2010-05-27 | Rb Ingeniería Ltda. | Sonoelectrochemical processing of metal sulphide concentrates |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2907899A1 (en) * | 2014-05-30 | 2015-08-19 | Nicolae Costache | Method and reactor for recovering metal and nonmetal elements from objects comprising metal and organic compounds |
WO2023175570A1 (en) * | 2022-03-16 | 2023-09-21 | Flsmidth A/S | System and method for controlling or removing hard deposits on electrowinning cathodes |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EA201291166A1 (en) | 2013-06-28 |
EP2576850A1 (en) | 2013-04-10 |
EP2576850B1 (en) | 2015-03-04 |
CA2800694A1 (en) | 2011-12-08 |
ZA201208874B (en) | 2013-08-28 |
CN102947472A (en) | 2013-02-27 |
AU2010354435A1 (en) | 2012-12-20 |
US20130146477A1 (en) | 2013-06-13 |
AP2012006649A0 (en) | 2012-12-31 |
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