Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Treatment by living organism
Reexamination Certificate
2005-04-05
2005-04-05
Hopkins, Robert A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Treatment by living organism
C210S611000, C210S620000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06875356
ABSTRACT:
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for recovering metals from metal-containing support materials such as mineral ores. In one embodiment, the metal may be separated from crushed support material or ore in a bioleaching lagoon by the action of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria under anaerobic conditions. The bioleached material is then pumped into a precipitation lagoon where hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria oxidize the metals under aerobic conditions. In another embodiment, metals may be directly biooxidized from a heap of the metal-containing support material having a hydrocarbon/oxygen injection system embedded therein. A water sprinkler system may be used to wet the heap while the hydrocarbon/oxygen injection system stimulates the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The resulting effluent solution may be pumped or gravity fed to an aerobic precipitation lagoon where aerobic hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria are used to precipitate or otherwise deposit the metals onto a deposition material.
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Global BioSciences, Inc.
Hopkins Robert A.
Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon
Towner, Esq. Alan G.
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