Apparatus and method for the reduction of metals

Abstract

Described is an apparatus for the production of an elemental metal from a metal-containing compound comprising a solution containing ions of a first metal and a second metal, wherein the second metal is in colloidal form, and a related method.

1 . An apparatus for the production of an elemental metal from a metal-containing compound, comprising: 
 a solution containing ions of a first metal; and    a second metal, wherein the second metal is in colloidal form.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second metal is less reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second metal is more reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third metal, wherein the third metal is in colloidal form.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the third metal is more reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the third metal is less reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a vessel for containing the solution, wherein the vessel is inert to the solution.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second metal is silver, gold, platinum, tin, lead, copper, zinc, iron, aluminum, magnesium, beryllium, nickel or cadmium.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a solid comprising the first metal in contact with the solution.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the solid comprising the first metal is a metal oxide.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy source.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the energy source supplies electric energy.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cathode and an anode in electrical contact with the solution.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the solution is less than 500° C.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elemental non-metal in contact with the solution.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the elemental non-metal is carbon.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising ions of a salt dissolved in the solution.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a cation of the salt is higher on the electromotive series than the first metal.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the salt is aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate or potassium aluminum sulfate.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises a reducing agent.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the reducing agent is hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         22 . A method for the production of a metal from a metal-containing compound, comprising the steps of: 
 suspending a first colloidal metal in a liquid; and    providing a metal-containing compound in contact with the liquid.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first colloidal metal is less reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first colloidal metal is more reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of introducing a second colloidal metal into the liquid.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second colloidal metal is more reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second colloidal metal is less reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of supplying energy to the liquid.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the energy supplied to the liquid is electrical energy.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature of the liquid is less than 500° C.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of providing an elemental non-metal in contact with the liquid.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the elemental non-metal is carbon.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of dissolving a salt in the liquid.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the cation of the dissolved salt is higher on the electromotive series than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the dissolved salt is aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate or potassium aluminum sulfate.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of adding a reducing agent to the liquid.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the reducing agent is hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         38 . An apparatus for the production of elemental metal from a metal-containing compound, comprising: 
 a solution;    a first metal at least partially submerged in the solution, the first metal having a surface area of at least 298,000,000 m 2  per cubic meter of first metal; and    a metal-containing compound in contact with the solution.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first metal is more reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first metal is less reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a third metal, the third metal having a surface area of at least 298,000,000 m 2  per cubic meter of third metal.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the third metal is more reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the third metal is less reactive than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a vessel for containing the solution, wherein the vessel is inert to the solution.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first metal is silver, gold, platinum, tin, lead, copper, zinc, iron, aluminum, magnesium, beryllium, nickel or cadmium.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the metal-containing compound is a metal ore.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the metal-containing compound is a metal oxide.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising an energy source.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the energy source supplies electric energy.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a cathode and an anode in electrical contact with the solution.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the temperature of the solution is less than 500° C.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising an elemental non-metal in contact with the solution.  
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the elemental non-metal is carbon.  
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a salt dissolved in the solution.  
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein a cation of the dissolved salt is higher on the electromotive series than the metal of the metal-containing compound.  
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the dissolved salt is aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate or potassium aluminum sulfate.  
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the solution comprises a reducing agent.  
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the reducing agent is hydrogen peroxide.