Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
Patent
1989-04-21
1991-07-02
Lacey, David L.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
422188, 422190, 422191, 435303, 435306, 435313, B01J 800, C12M 100, B02C 2500
Patent
active
050283987
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention refers to a device for providing a continuous biological decomposition of minerals and concentrates thereof by means of aerobic micro-organisms and comprising a lying elongated rotatable container with inlets and outlets at the ends thereof for mineral and nutrition solutions and bacteria and gas, internal guide means for circulation and oxygenization of the liquid mixture in the container and a drive device for rotating the container.
Biological d ition of mostly sulfide minerals has been used fro a long time as a method for obtaining metals from ores. Various methods have been developed for utilizing various parts of the ore. As example it might be mentioned that metal-poor wall rock from open pits is dumped into huge waste heaps, after which said heaps are sprayed with a solution containing a micro-organisms. From the leach solution obtained at the bottom the metals then are recovered.
For a ground ore or a mineral concentrate from ore usually various types of leach tanks are used. In said reacting tanks mineral concentrate, micro-organisms and nutrition solution are mixed and the metals then are recovered from the leach solution obtained. Attempts also have been made to connect several leach tanks with each other into a continuous system. In such case the mineral suspension has been pumped between the tanks in a constant flow or the flow between the tanks has been obtained by overflow from one tank to another.
There are mainly two types of leach tanks which are present, namely the so-called "Pachucha" tank and a stirred reactor tank. In a continuous system both said types are fed with a pulp consisting of a slurry of water and mineral concentrate. The biological decomposition then occurs in the tanks. The slurry is prepared in a separate storage tank. As far as the "Pachucha" tank is concerned, a strong air flow from below is used for addition of oxygen to the leach solution as well as for stirring so that the mineral particles do not settle. In the other type of reactor tank there is a mechanical agitator and the addition of oxygen usually occurs by introduction of air close to said agitator.
The capacity of both types of tanks is limited by the efficiency of the stirring. Particularly in continuous systems there is required a homogeneous slurry in order to avoid settling and hence an accumulation of solid material in the tanks. In its turn, this limits the range of particle distribution and the pulp density. Too high pulp density also might have toxical effects on the organisms.
Therefore, further development of the continuous system has resulted in a new type of tank, a lying rotatable drum. In principle, such a drum is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,094 but the drum now suggested differs essentially from the known structure concerning feeding and discharging as well as the internal design. Furthermore also the way of working and the purpose differ essentially between the drums as well as the aeration of the solution.
The device according to the present invention is substantially distinguished by at least one transversal partition within the container at a position between the ends thereof for dividing the container interior into chambers, said partition having a central opening for transmission of the liquid mixture between the chambers, and in that the guide means are formed as profiles, mounted on and protruding radially inwardly from the inner wall of the container, which profiles in the chamber closest to the outlet end of the container extend parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the container, while profiles in the chamber adjacent to the inlet end of the container from an orientation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container at the container end are progressively curved towards the partition, and air supply means furthermore being mounted in each of the chambers.
The inventive device is particularly well suited for treatment of goldbearing arsenopyrite/pyrite concentrates as well as for leaching precious and rare earth metals and bulk concentrates of r
REFERENCES:
patent: 4223094 (1980-09-01), Vaseen
patent: 4255058 (1981-03-01), Peleschka et al.
patent: 4480922 (1984-11-01), Mendenhall
Edvardsson Ulf
Hallberg Rolf O.
Chan William K. Y.
Lacey David L.
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