Gold and silver recovery processes by electrolytic generation of active bromine
US4904358A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 1988 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention comprises leaching of ore or other materials containing gold and/or silver with an electrolyzed sodium bromide solution. A quantity of electric current is passed through a volume of 5% to 50% by weight sodium bromide solution to generate a quantity of active bromine. The active bromine oxidizes available gold to a solubilized or complexed form of AuBr.sub.3, or available silver to a solubilized or complexed form of AgBr. Gold or silver are separated therefrom in a manner which also generates Br.sup.- ions in solution. The Br.sup.- ion containing solution is combined with the 5% to 50% NaBr solution to make the Br.sup.- ions in such solution available for electrical regeneration into active bromine. Only in minimal, if any, amount of bromine from the 5% to 50% NaBr solution is depleted in the process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.