Patent SG-11201805574Q-A (SG)
Title: Method and apparatus for recovering metals and sulfur from feed streams containing metal sulfides and polysulfides
Inventor: GORDON JOHN HOWARD
IPC: B01D53/32
Filed: 2016-12-29
Abstract: INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property -, Organization MD 1101111 0 11101 0I0 11111 HO 11111 0 111 01 010 11111111111 HEIM III International Bureau .. .... ..Yejd ..... .....!;,,, (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date WO 2017/117373 Al 6 July 2017 (06.07.2017) WI P0 I P CT (51) International Patent Classification: AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BOlD 53/32 (2006.01) BOlD 53/64 (2006.01) BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DJ, DK, DM, BOlD 53/48 (2006.01) DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KH, KN, (21) International Application Number: KP, KR, KW, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, PCT/US2016/069162 MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, (22) International Filing Date: NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, 29 December 2016 (29.12.2016) RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, (25) Filing Language: English ZA, ZM, ZW. (26) Publication Language: English (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (30) Priority Data: kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, 62/272,224 29 December 2015 (29.12.2015) US GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, (71) Applicant: CERAMATEC, INC. [US/US]; 2425 S 900 TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, W, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119 (US). DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, (72) Inventor: GORDON, John Howard; 958 North Terrace Hills Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 84103 (US). SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). (74) Agent: CHA, Paul; 2425 South 900 West, Salt Lake City, Published: Utah 84119 (US). — with international search report (Art. 21(3)) (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, (54) Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS ING METAL SULFIDES AND POLYSULFIDES 100 -4— FOR RECOVERING METALS AND SULFUR FROM FEED STREAMS CONTAIN- e- (57) : A system to remove sodium and Sulfur from a feed stream containing al- kali metal sulfides and polysulfides in addi- 120 tion to heavy metals. The system includes an electrolytic cell having an anolyte compart- ment housing an anode in contact with an — 134 anolyte. The anolyte includes alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides dissolved in a polar I organic solvent. The anolyte includes heavy metal ions. A separator includes an ion con- 112— 128 ---.).„ , 132 124 ,-.---- --- ' 130 -4--:::• :. . ,,, q zr 116 . r . .. 4---- M+ 138 • j ducting membrane and separates the anolyte compartment from a catholyte compartment 110 that includes a cathode in contact with a catholyte. The catholyte includes an alkali ion-conductive liquid. A power source ap- Il 122 itie, • high plies a voltage to the electrolytic cell enough to reduce the alkali metal and oxidize 114 Sulfur ions to allow recovery of the alkali en 126 --7— IN en IN ,-1 ,-1 IN ,-1 © N 136 118 Fig. 1 metal and elemental sulfur. The ratio of sodi- um to Sulfur is such that the open circuit po- tential of the electrolytic cell is greater than about 2.3V. O