US2007131058A1PendingUtilityA1

Process for recovering platinum group metals from ores and concentrates

37
Assignee: BERGERON MARIOPriority: Jul 22, 2003Filed: Jul 20, 2004Published: Jun 14, 2007
Est. expiryJul 22, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mario BergeronMarc Richer-Lafléche
C22B 11/06C22B 34/1209C22B 34/32C22B 11/04C22B 1/08Y02P10/20
37
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: 
 a. mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and    b. contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a corresponding PGM chloride salt,    whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 250° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 350° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 500° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 500° C. and about 720° C.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 600° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 620° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 650° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 660° C. and about 800° C.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said temperature is between about 500° C. and about 720° C.  
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO is performed at a gas flow rate of at least 20 ml/min.  
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one salt is selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl and MgCl 2  and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the salt is NaCl.  
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the salt is NaCl and forms at least about 5% w/w of the mixture.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the salt is NaCl and forms about 5% to about 20% w/w of the mixture.  
   
   
       16 . A method for simultaneously recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a chromite product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore and chromite ore concentrate and increasing the Cr/Fe ratio of the chromite product comprising the steps of: 
 a. mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is selected to induce the selective extraction of iron and is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and    b. contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature of between about 240° C. and 750° C. so as to 1) induce the formation of a thin film of a melt around the chromite product, 2) promote the selective chlorination of iron and 3) convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt,    whereby at least one PGM species chloride salt is recovered and an iron impoverished chromite product is yielded having an increased chromite to iron ratio as compared to that of the chromite product.    
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one salt is selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl and MgCl 2  and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one salt is in a concentration of about 5% w/w to about 10% w/w in the mixture.  
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one salt is NaCl in a concentration of about 5% w/w to about 10% w/w in the mixture.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one salt is NaCl in a concentration of about 5% w/w in the mixture.  
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step of contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO is performed at a chlorine flow rate of at least about 60 ml/min.  
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step of contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO is performed at a chlorine flow rate of at least about 200 ml/min.  
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the temperature is between about 250° and about 720° C.  
   
   
       24 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the temperature is between about 670° and about 720° C.  
   
   
       25 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the Cl 2 /CO ratio is between about 0.5 and about 1.5.  
   
   
       26 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is dried before chlorination.  
   
   
       27 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein N 2  is used as a carrier gas during chlorination.  
   
   
       28 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the duration of the chlorination is about 30 minutes to about 2 hours.  
   
   
       29 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the duration of the chlorination is about 2 hours.  
   
   
       30 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the Cl 2 /CO ratio is between about 0.5 and about 1.5.  
   
   
       31 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the mixture is dried before chlorination.  
   
   
       32 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein N 2  is used as a carrier gas during chlorination.  
   
   
       33 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the duration of the chlorination is about 30 minutes to about 2 hours.  
   
   
       34 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the duration of the chlorination is about 2 hours.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2007131058A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.