US2003192403A1PendingUtilityA1

Drainage aid for metal heap leaching

38
Priority: Apr 11, 2002Filed: Apr 11, 2002Published: Oct 16, 2003
Est. expiryApr 11, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul R. Burgmayer
C22B 11/08C22B 11/04C22B 3/04Y02P10/20
38
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Methods for increasing drainage or percolation of a lixiviant solution through mineral ore in a heap mining operation. A drainage aid comprising ethoxylated aliphatic primary alcohols and mixtures thereof is dripped, sprayed or otherwise brought into contact with the heaped metal ore aggregate and thereby improves percolation or drainage of the lixiviant through the heaped metal ore.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a method of leaching metals from metal ore in which a lixiviant solution is placed in contact with said metal ore to extract said metal therefrom, the improvement comprising contacting said metal ore with an effective amount of a drainage aid comprising an ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.  
     
     
         2 . Method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol has the formula  
       HOCH 2 CH 2 —O n R  
       wherein R is C 4 -C 20  alkyl or C 4 -C 20  alkenyl and n is from about 2 to about 20.  
     
     
         3 . Method as recited in  claim 2  wherein R is C 4 -C 14  alkyl or C 4 -C 14  alkenyl and n is about 3 to about 8.  
     
     
         4 . Method of recited in  claim 2  wherein said step of contacting said metal ore comprises contacting said metal ore with an aqueous solution containing said drainage aid, said drainage aid being present in said aqueous solution in an amount of about 1-1,000 ppm.  
     
     
         5 . Method as recited in  claim 4  wherein said drainage aid is present in an amount of about 1-500 ppm.  
     
     
         6 . Method as recited in  claim 4  wherein said drainage aid is present in an amount of about 1-100 ppm.  
     
     
         7 . Method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said drainage aid comprises a mixture of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols and wherein, in said mixture, R is about 7.3 alkyl and n is about 4.5.  
     
     
         8 . Method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said drainage aid comprises a mixture of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols and wherein, in said mixture, R is about 6.7 alkyl and n is about 5.3.  
     
     
         9 . Method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said drainage aid comprises a mixture of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols and wherein, in said mixture, R is about 10.5 alkyl and n is about 3.5.  
     
     
         10 . Method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said drainage aid comprises a mixture of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols and wherein, in said mixture, R is about 12.2 alkyl or alkenyl and n is about 4.  
     
     
         11 . In a method of leaching gold from a heap of gold metal ore in a heap leaching operation wherein a cyanide based lixiviant system is used to contact and remove gold from said gold metal ore, the improvement comprising contacting said gold metal ore with a drainage aid comprising an ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol or mixtures of said ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.  
     
     
         12 . Method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said lixiviant system has a pH of about 9 to about 11.5 and wherein said ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol is a primary alcohol having a carbon chain length of about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms and average ethoxylation of about 2-20 moles of EtO (ethylene oxide) per molecule.  
     
     
         13 . Method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said ethoxylated aliphatic primary alcohol is present in an aqueous solution in an amount of about 1—about 1,000 ppm.  
     
     
         14 . Method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said ethoxylated aliphatic primary alcohol is present in an amount of about 1-500 ppm.  
     
     
         15 . Method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said ethoxylated aliphatic primary alcohol is present in an amount of about 1-100 ppm.  
     
     
         16 . Method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said carbon chain length is from about 4-14 and said average ethoxylation is about 3 to about 8 moles of EtO per molecule.  
     
     
         17 . Method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said drainage aid comprises a mixture of ethoxylated aliphatic primary alcohols.  
     
     
         18 . Method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said mixture has an average carbon chain length of about 7.3 and an average of about 4.5 moles of EtO per molecule.  
     
     
         19 . Method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said mixture has an average carbon chain length of about 6.7 and an average of about 5.3 moles of EtO per molecule.  
     
     
         20 . Method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said mixture has an average carbon chain length of about 10.5 and an average of about 3.5 moles of EtO per molecule.  
     
     
         21 . Method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said mixture has an average carbon chain length of about 12.2 and an average of about 4 moles of EtO per molecule.  
     
     
         22 . Method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said drainage aid comprises isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate.  
     
     
         23 . Method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said drainage aid comprises 2-decylethoxy poly(ethyleneoxy) ethanol.  
     
     
         24 . Method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said drainage aid comprises ethoxylated 2-decanol.  
     
     
         25 . Method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said drainage aid comprises ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol having a chain length of about 12.2.

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