Patent · US Expired

Integrated, tank/heap biooxidation process

US5873927A · kind A · utility

20Cited by

11References

27Claims

0Family size

Assignees

Echo Bay Mines, Limited · CA
Biomin Technologies SA · CH

Inventors

Michael Schaffner · Groß-Gerau, DE
John Batty · Johannesburg, ZA

Key dates

Filing date	May 16, 1997
Grant date	Feb 23, 1999
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 16, 2017

Classification

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

Abstract

A metal-containing refractory sulfide ore is split into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is partially biodigested by a sulfide-digesting microorganism in a biooxidation reactor where the microorganism is acclimated to the sulfide "diet" provided by the ore. The partially digested ore is then combined with the second portion. The resulting material is then dewatered, biooxidized and subjected to a lixiviation process.

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