Patent · US Expired

Hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of precious metal values from precious metal ores with thiosulfate lixiviant

US5354359A · kind A · utility

51Cited by
15References
46Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJul 28, 1993
Grant dateOct 11, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 28, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P10/20
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of precious metal values from refractory precious metal ore materials containing preg-robbing carbon by leaching with a thiosulfate lixiviant, the process comprising PA1 a. providing a body of particles and/or particulates of an ore material having precious metal values and preg-robbing carbonaceous components; PA1 b. contacting the body of particles and/or particulates with a thiosulfate lixiviant solution at conditions conducive to the formation of stable precious metal thiosulfate complexes; PA1 c. recovering the thiosulfate lixiviant from the body of particles and/or particulates after a period of contact which is sufficient for the lixiviant solution to become pregnant with precious metal values extracted from the ore material; and PA1 d. recovering the precious metal values from the lixiviant solution. In a preferred embodiment, the refractory ore materials are low grade precious metal ore materials.

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