Patent ID: 6576041
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for pressure oxidation of a mineral material comprising at east one sulfide mineral to free at least one metal value from the sulfide mineral to facilitate recovery of the metal value, the method comprising:introducing a feed of the mineral material in particulate form into a reactor, so that, in the reactor, the mineral material is in a slurry with a liquid; introducing oxygen gas into the reactor to contact the slurry and oxidize at least a portion of the sulfide mineral to thereby free at least a portion of the metal value from the sulfide; and agitating the slurry within the reactor, the agitating comprising drawing into and expelling from a cavity of a rotating agitator at least portions of the slurry and the oxygen gas to cycle the portions of the slurry and the oxygen gas through the cavity with a pumping action, wherein the agitator comprises a vane and at least a portion of the vane extends outside of the cavity so that during the rotating the vane contacts the slurry outside of the cavity.