Patent · US Expired

Method for recovering small particles of heavy precious metals by amalgamation

US3998629A · kind A · utility

0Cited by
2References
4Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1975
Grant dateDec 21, 1976
Priority date—
Expiry dateDec 22, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC22B11/10
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for recovering small particles of gold or platinum from a slurry by feeding the slurry onto a layer of mercury which is flowing downwardly along a generally conical, downwardly converging inner wall of a housing. The housing is rotated about the vertical axis of the conical wall at a speed which induces particles to settle out or amalgamate with the layer of mercury and causes the remainder of the slurry to move upwardly over the mercury layer and out of the housing. Upon collection and separation of the particles therefrom, the mercury is returned to the housing for resupply to the inner wall thereof so as to maintain a continuous layer of mercury.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.