Patent #9447483 B2
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARALLEL SOLUTION EXTRACTION OF ONE OR MORE METAL VALUES FROM METAL-BEARING MATERIALS
The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extrac- tion techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extrac- tion circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.
Inventors
Anand Raman,
Barbara J Savage,
David G Meadows,
Jason M Morgan,
Wayne W Hazen
Sep. 20, 2016