Specialized metallurgical processes – compositions for use therei – Processes – Free metal or alloy reductant contains magnesium
Patent
1996-06-12
1999-06-22
Andrews, Melvyn
Specialized metallurgical processes, compositions for use therei
Processes
Free metal or alloy reductant contains magnesium
75744, 266101, 423DIG17, 435262, 4352625, C22B 318
Patent
active
059144416
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for anaerobic oxidation of metal sulfides in ores and concentrates. Base-metal and precious-metal ores and concentrates often contain metal sulfides, such iron sulfides (e.g., pyrite, pyrhotite, arsenopyrite, etc.), copper sulfides (e.g., chalcopyrite, chalcocite, etc.), zinc sulfides (e.g., sphalerite, etc.) and/or lead sulfides (e.g., galena, etc.) and/or other metal sulfides), that must be oxidized in order to recover metal values (e.g., gold, silver, or platinum group elements) from the ores. In the present invention, these metal sulfides are oxidized in one reactor under anaerobic or anoxic conditions using oxidized metal ions, such as ferrous ions (Fe.sup.+3), as the oxidizing agent. Anaerobic oxidation of elemental sulfur that is produced by metal sulfide oxidation is biocatalyzed by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, such as Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, or or Sulfolobus sp. The oxidized metal ions are produced biologically by iron-oxidizing bacteria in another reactor under aerobic conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the anaerobic reactor is an upflow, counter-current reactor having a fluidized bed of ore or concentrate particles and the aerobic reactor is a plug-flow reactor or a biofilm reactor.
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Hunter Robert M.
Stewart Frank M.
Andrews Melvyn
Hunter Robert M.
Yellowstone Environmental Science, Inc.
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