A SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND PROCESS FOR LEACHING METAL AND STORING THERMAL ENERGY DURING METAL EXTRACTION

Title:

A SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND PROCESS FOR LEACHING METAL AND STORING THERMAL ENERGY DURING METAL EXTRACTION

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/040244

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

An environmentally friendly (e.g. no acid, base, or cyanide) system and process for large scale extraction of metal ion into aerobic molten salt (or ionic liquid) and the electrodeposition of metal (e.g. copper, gold, silver, etc.) from the metal ion dissolved in the molten salt. The non-volatile low vapor pressure liquid salt is reusable, and heat from the molten slag can heat the molten salts or ionic liquids. Another embodiment comprises a one-pot apparatus for the extraction of metal (e.g. copper) from metal earths and electrodepositing the metal using a low melting (209°C) aerated Na-K-Zn chloride salt in which copper metal oxidizes and is converted to soluble copper chloride. When an electrical power supply is connected to the graphite vessel (cathode) and to copper rods in the melt (anodes), then the copper chloride is deposited as copper metal by electroreduction on the bottom of the graphite reaction vessel.

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WO/1995/005263	TREATMENT OF PARTICULATE MATTER BY ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE

Inventors:

GODINEZ ANDRES (MX)
GERVASIO DOMINIC FRANCIS (US)
ELSENTRIECY HASSAN H (EG)

Application Number:

PCT/US2015/048823

Publication Date:

June 23, 2016

Filing Date:

September 08, 2015

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

JALBOUT ABRAHAM FOUAD (US)
GODINEZ ANDRES (MX)
GERVASIO DOMINIC FRANCIS (US)
ELSENTRIECY HASSAN H (EG)

International Classes:

C22B4/08; C22B9/18; C22B19/12; H05B7/06

Domestic Patent References:

WO2013022552A2

2013-02-14

Foreign References:

US20100272999A1	2010-10-28
US20060050763A1	2006-03-09
US5109389A	1992-04-28
US3953308A	1976-04-27

Other References: