Patent AU-2013202009-B2 (AU)
Title: Method For Recovering Cobalt from Cobalt-Containing Ores
Inventor: WELHAM NICHOLAS JAMES
IPC: C22B23/00
Filed: 2013-03-26
Granted: 2015-03-19
Abstract: (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date W O 2014/000023 Al 3 January 2014 (03.01.2014) W I POI PCT (51) [nterntional Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indiated. for ever C22B 23/00{2006.01) C22B 23/06 (200601) kind ofnationalprotection available) AE, AG, AL, AM, C22B 3/200(2006.01) AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BIT, BN, BR, BW, BY, (U International Applieion Number- B, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, (21) I i ApplrDZ, EC, IT, EE, ES, FL, GB, GD, GE, Gil, GM, GT, PCT/AU2O 3/000665 HN, IR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR, (22) International Filing Date: KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, US, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, 20 June 2013 (20.06.2013) MG, MK, MN, MW, MNX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, Pt, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SC, (25) Filing Language: English SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TII, TJ, TM, TN, (26) Publication Language: English TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (30) Priority Data: (84) Designated States (uness otherwise indicated. for eorv 2012902806 29 June 2012 (29.06.2012) AU kind of regional poitotio available): ARIPO (BW, GIL 2013202009 26 March 2013 (26.03.2013) AU GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasiau (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, Ti, (71) Applicant: METALEACH LIMITED [GB/GB]: Akaa TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CII, CY, CZ, DE, DK, Building, 24 De Castro Street, Tortola, VGI I0 (VG)- EE, ES, Fl, FR, GB, OR, HR, liU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, (72) Inventors; and MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, S1, SK, SM, (71) Applicants JOHNSION, Grry Mervyn [AU/AUJ; 74 TRI, OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, Cl, CM, GA, IN, GQ, OW, Bayview Terrace, Claremont, Western Australia 6010 KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TO). (AU). SUTCLIFFE, Matthew Leslie [GB/GB]; 83D Published: Gloncester St, England, Greater London SWI V4EB (GB). WELHAM. Nicholas James [GB/AU]; 2 Fairway Court, with international search report (Art 21(3)) Invermay Park, Ballarat, Victoria 3350 (AU). (74) Agent: WRAYS; 56 Ord Street, West Perth, Western Aus tralia 6005 (AU), (54) Title: METHOD FOR RECOVERING COBALT FROM COBALT-CONTAINING ORES FeSO4 raffinate from spmy SX plant o conveyor]- - screen tailings pond SX plant (57) Abstract: A method for recovering cobalt from an oxidised cobalt-containing ore, the method comprising the steps of: Apply ing to the oxidised cobalt-containing ore an aqueous solution ofa cobalt reducing agent at a pressure of between about atmospheric pressure and about 5 atmospheres, at a temperature between about 50C and about 65*C, to provide a cured ore more amenable to i washing with an aqueous wash solution in mixture with the aqueous solution of a cobalt reducing agent; Washing the cured ore N4 aqueous solution of the reducing agent mixture with an aqueous wash solution for a period of less than 24 hours at a pressure of between about atmospheric pressure and about atmospheres, at a temperatu between about 5*C and about 65*C, producing a co balt-containing solution containing at least 00 I gI: I cobalt, and a spent ore; Separating the cobalt containing solution from the spent ore; and Recovering cobalt from the cobalt-containing solution.