Patent ID: 6350354
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A plant for extracting metal from a metal ore's leach solution, comprising:a first stage-wise, plug flow contactor adapted to mix an aqueous solution and an organic solution into a first mixed emulsion; a first stage reactor adapted to receive said first mixed emulsion from said first contactor wherein said first reactor is adapted to gently mix said first emulsion allowing dwell time to bring the reaction to near completion; a first separator adapted to receive said first mixed emulsion from said first reactor, the separator having a first section comprised of coalescing material adapted to break up said first emulsion and a quiet zone adapted to further separate by gravitational forces said aqueous solution and said organic solution; and a loaded organic coalescer adapted to receive said organic solution from said first separator, wherein said loaded organic coalescer is adapted to remove aqueous entrainment from said organic solution.