The present invention relates to methods and systems for metal sorption and, in particular though non-limiting embodiments, to an improved system for sorption of gold from a slurry containing ore having a portion of gold using inter-stage screening.
Precious metals (e.g., gold and silver) and other metals (e.g., copper, iron and nickel), are generally contained in ore materials. Metal-containing ores are usually processed in accordance with one or more known techniques so that the metals can be extracted. Common methods of extraction include: carbon-in-pulp, carbon-in-leach, and resin-in-pulp.
Carbon systems involve activated carbon as an adsorbent, usually in the form of activated charcoal, mixed with a slurry of ore in a cyanide solution. In a carbon-in-pulp system, there are mixing tanks for cyanidation leaching prior to the carbon adsorption stage. In contrast, a carbon-in-leach system provides cyanidation in the presence of carbon. Generally, in a resin-in-pulp system, a leached metal-containing ore pulp is exposed to a resin as the adsorbent, typically employed as moderately coarse particles, in a series of agitator tanks. For each of these systems, the adsorbent adsorbs desired metal or precious metal (usually associated as a complex) and is typically separated from the slurry and/or pulp via some type of inter-stage screen assembly. The adsorbent particles are generally larger than the finely ground ore particles, which permits the screening step to be accomplished with relative ease. An overview of sorption methods and systems, including inter-stage screening systems, can be found in Komadina et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,078) and Komadina et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,598).
The inter-stage screening assemblies typically utilize a plurality of mechanically or pneumatically agitated tanks arranged in series, usually 4 to 6. Each tank generally contains adsorbent having a different amount of metal adsorbed thereon; with the first tank having the highest and the last tank having the lowest. A slurry of a finely ground ore is introduced into the first tank, while the adsorbent is advanced counter-currently to the flow of slurry from the last tank to the first tank. The slurry is allowed to mix with the adsorbent to form a pulp. The pulp is then agitated to facilitate contact between the mixed adsorbent and slurry, thereby increasing the degree of sorption of metal from the slurry by the adsorbent.
Despite improvements in sorption systems and methods and inter-stage screening, inter-stage screening systems still suffer from low throughput values, high energy costs, and maintenance costs and delays. Accordingly, there is need for improved methods and systems for metal sorption using inter-stage screening providing decreased maintenance downtimes, increased throughput flows, and increased efficiencies.
Embodiments of the present invention include a system, including: a sorption vessel containing a pulp including an aqueous slurry and a sorbent; and a screening system at least partially submerged within the pulp and including a housing and a vibratory screening machine including a compression assembly and a screen assembly. The aqueous slurry includes a metal that is adsorbed by the sorbent to form an oversized material in the pulp. The compression assembly compresses the screen assembly into a concave shape and the screen assembly is inclined such that the pulp if fed over a first inclined portion of the screen assembly and the oversized materials are conveyed over a second inclined portion of the screen assembly and removed from the system or conveyed back into the sorption vessel. The undersized material may pass through the screen assembly into a portion of the housing separate from the pulp and is discharged to another sorption vessel.
Embodiments of the present invention include a method of separating a metal containing sorbent from a pulp using a vibratory screening machine. The vibratory screening machine includes a compression assembly that compresses a screen assembly into a concave shape and the screen assembly is inclined such that the pulp if fed over a first inclined portion of the screen assembly and the metal containing sorbet is conveyed over a second inclined portion of the screen assembly.
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods and systems for sorption of metals from metal-containing ore. Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized with carbon-in-pulp, carbon-in-leach, and resin-in-pulp systems. The general process of recovering gold from a gold bearing ore employing a combined cyanidation and adsorption treatment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,208, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. While the description in U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,208, relates particularly to gold recovery, embodiments of the present invention may be used in processes for recovering silver, iron, copper, nickel and other metals. The recovery of a metal from a mined ore is within the scope of the present invention.
Methods and systems for sorption of metals using inter-stage screening are provided in Komadina et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,078) and Komadina et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,598), both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention provides improvements on the methods and systems disclosed in the Komadina patents. The generally known structures described in the Komadina patents may be implemented with the embodiments of the present invention described herein, including structures and components of the sorption vessels and related systems, as well as process variables and systems. Embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods for sorbing metal values by advancing slurry through a plurality of vessels arranged in series while counter-currently directing a sorbent through the vessels. The slurry may be mixed with the sorbent to form a pulp and portions of the pulp may be subjected to the improved inter-stage screening system to separate adsorbent from the pulp after the adsorbent has adsorbed metal. Portions of the adsorbent may be returned to a particular vessel, portions may be advanced to another vessel in the series, and portions may be separated for processing and/or recovery of metal. The improved inter-stage screening may include improved screening machines partially submerged into the vessels such that the improved screening machines have screening surfaces partially below a predetermined level of pulp in each vessel. The improved inter-stage screening system may include housing for isolating the system from pulp, creating a hydraulic differential between the predetermined pulp level and the screening system.
Embodiments of the present invention may include a plurality of vessels and/or tanks containing improved shaker machines, screens and motors that are designed and configured to work together to provide increased throughput of pulp and/or slurry in a metal sorption process. The improved shaker machines and screens significantly increase efficiency of metal recovery and overall throughput while minimizing maintenance downtime. Improved screening machines may be provided that operate optimally in the tough processing environments common to inter-stage screening systems and allow for quick and efficient maintenance and/or changing out of screen assemblies. Improved screens may be thermoplastic injection molded screens having strength and durability while providing optimal screening area and high throughputs. These improved screens are configured to interface with the improved screening machines for compression mounting and may include various surface configurations for optimizing metal sorption processing. In one embodiment, the screen surfaces have a corrugated or pyramid type shape. The improved screening systems may incorporate one or more improved vibratory motors having a continuous bearing lubrication system that are configured to operate in conjunction with the improved vibratory machines and screens and, when used with these improved apparatuses in the metal sorption process, may provide almost twice the conventional G forces. Embodiments of the present invention also include a discharge tray configured to minimize build-up of adsorbent. Embodiments of the present invention incorporating combinations of the improvements disclosed herein allow for substantially increased flow rates (e.g., machines capable of a flow rates of approximately 800 GPM can be replaced with by machines having flow rates of approximately 2,500 GPM). The improvements disclosed herein may be incorporated and/or retrofitted into existing sorption systems and inter-stage screening assemblies. Embodiments of the present invention allow for additional stages of screening/sorption without increasing space required for vessels and without decreasing total flow rates of an existing sorption system. In certain embodiments of the present invention, existing vessels of a sorption system may be cross-connected to increase absorption rates. The improvements provided herein allow for substantial increases in exposure time between target metals and adsorbent, increasing recovery of the target metal.
Screening of pulp in a counter-current inter-stage screening system can cause substantial wear and tear on screens used for separation of adsorbent from the pulp, requiring frequent screen changes. In order to change screens in traditional screening machines, typically bolts or latching assemblies have to be removed to free the used screen and place in the new screen. Due to the damaging and/or corrosive nature of the pulp being screened, loosening of bolts is often a difficult task and may require that bolts be cut off in order to release the used screen. Because of these difficulties, traditional screening machines can require substantial down time of the entire system in order to change out a screen of a single machine.
In embodiments of the present invention, the improved screening machines provide more efficient screening as well as reduced maintenance costs and time. The improved screens may have a concave support surface between a central member and a wall member with a compression assembly attached to an exterior surface of the wall member. The compression assembly includes retractable members configured to pass through the wall and provide compression against a side of a screen assembly placed in the machine such that the screen assembly is compressed against the central member and into a concave shape supported by the concave support surface. The force from the compression assembly holds the screening assembly in place during high G forces that occur during vibratory screening. Some improved screening machines may have dual, side-by-side screening sections separated by the central member whereas other improved screening machines may have only a single screening section and no central member. Where there is only a single screening section and no central member, the compression assembly compresses the screening assembly against a surface of a second wall opposite the first wall having the compression assembly. Embodiments of the present invention may incorporate screening machines having dual screening sections and screening machines having a single screening section in various combinations throughout the system. Unlike traditional screening machines, the compression assemblies, which are located externally, allow for simple and quick access to release a screen assembly in need of change. Moreover, as the screening machines are partially submerged in the pulp, the compression assembly avoids complications associated with corrosion on other screen locking mechanisms, such as bolts that may need to be cut. To further increase efficiency, the screening machines may include a guide assembly attached to a wall member and having one or more mating surfaces. The guide assembly allows for quick and accurate location of a screen assembly being installed into the machine. Screen assemblies configured to mate with the mating surface can be accurately guided into place without substantial manipulation to correct the location. Incorporation of guides as part of the improved machines further increases efficiencies and decreases down time. The improved screening machines, having increased durability and improved installation options for screen assemblies, also allow for higher excitation forces to be applied to the systems, thereby further increasing screening efficiency and overall efficiency of the system. Embodiments of the system disclosed herein may utilize any combination of vibratory screening machines and different combinations may be employed at different points in the system. In embodiments of the present invention, improved screening machines disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/460,200, 13/653,162, and 13/653,014 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,578,394, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, may be incorporated, including the particular screen assemblies described therein, as well as the machines and components and methods for attaching screen assemblies to machines as described therein. The screening machines provided in the present invention include any of the embodiments disclosed in said patent applications.
In embodiments of the present invention, screening machines such as provided in
Another problem with traditional systems is that the durability of the screens themselves is limited. Due to the nature of the pulp, wire cloth screens are traditionally not utilized in inter-stage vibratory screening systems of the type disclosed herein. Rather, polyurethane screens are typically employed. However, polyurethane screens do not have sufficient durability to withstand long term use in an inter-stage screening system, requiring frequent changes and increasing down time. Additionally, polyurethane screens are generally installed with gripping members to pull the screen over a frame in slightly convex shape and do not typically permit installation via a concave shape under the force of a compression assembly. The screening area for a polyurethane screen is also limited to a flat or slightly convex embodiment.
To overcome the limits of traditional screens, in embodiments of the present invention, thermoplastic injection molded screens and/or screen assemblies may be incorporated. Thermoplastic materials provide excellent flexure and bending fatigue strength and are ideal for use in intermittent or constant heavy loading. The low coefficient of friction of thermoplastic materials provides for optimal wear characteristics, increasing the durability of the screens and screen assemblies. Thermoplastic materials also provide resistance to stress cracking, aging, and extreme weathering. Thermoplastic injection molded screen assemblies may include a number of screen elements having screening openings installed upon a number of subgrids having grid openings, where multiple subgrids are be joined together to form the screen assembly. Each screen element is thermoplastic injection molded and subgrids may be arranged in various combinations to adapt for the intended use of the screen assembly. The screen elements may include reinforcement members as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,826 to increase the strength of the screen elements and retain constant screening openings. Thermoplastic injection molded screen assemblies may be configured to receive a compression force for installation via compression and may be further configured for concave installation. Binder bars may be incorporated into screen assemblies to distribute a compression load across the screen assembly. Additionally, thermoplastic injection molded screen assemblies may incorporate guide mating surfaces configured to mate with a guide assembly of a screening machine having a guide assembly. Accordingly, in the present invention, thermoplastic screen assemblies may be configured for use with any of the improved screening machines. The thermoplastic injection molded screens have an increased screening area over traditional screens used in sorption systems, such as polyurethane screens, allowing for increased flow rates and increased processing of slurry containing metals. Thermoplastic injection molded screens are also substantially resistant to blinding, thereby maintaining a substantially constant effective screening area over the life of the screen. Moreover, thermoplastic molded screens provide for increased durability, efficiency and performance over traditional screens utilized in connection with inter-stage screening systems, allowing for higher vibrational forces to be applied and increased life of the screen assemblies. Additionally, thermoplastic injection molded screen assemblies provide the option of incorporating pyramid shaped subgrids into the screen assemblies. Pyramid shaped subgrids allow for the creation of a corrugated screening surface substantially increasing screening surface areas without using additional screening machines. The increased screening surface area provides increased throughput of the system. Prior to the present invention, attempts to incorporate corrugated screening surfaces into sorption systems failed because the slurry loads on the screens flattened and ripped the screens causing catastrophic failure. The increased strength and durability of thermoplastic injection molded screens allows for corrugated screens to be included in sorption systems thereby increasing effective screening area without increasing size requirements for the system. In embodiments of the present invention, thermoplastic injection molded screens and/or screen assemblies may be incorporated such as the screen assemblies specifically disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/800,826 and 14/268,101, the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Screen assemblies may include thermoplastic screen assemblies as shown in
Durability limitations and smaller open screening areas of prior screens and screening machines also limited the forces that could be applied to the screening machines without causing undue wear and tear. With the increased structural strength and more open screening area of the screens utilized in embodiments of the present invention, vibratory forces may be increased, thereby further increasing the processing efficiency and flow rate of processed materials. Embodiments of the present invention may include screening machines with one or more vibratory motors 180 having a self-contained continuous bearing lubrication system such as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,189, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, and shown in
The increased screening efficiencies and flow rates provided by embodiments of the present invention also lead to increased discharge flow of slurry passing through the screens of the screening assemblies. The increased flow of passed-through materials can lead to backups in traditional screening machines and systems, such as those shown in Komadina et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,078) and Komadina et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,598).
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Once the pulp 150 is directed into the screening machine 40, the sorbent (now impregnated with adsorbed metals) is then separated from the slurry and/or pulp 150 by moving upwardly along a screening assembly 100 using vibration from the improved vibratory motors 180. The slurry of the pulp passes through screen openings in the screening assembly 100 while carbon sorbent is retained upon the screen assembly 100. The vibration then urges the sorbent to move upwardly on the screen assembly 100 along arrow C, where it can slide onto a ramp, out discharge 195, and either eventually return back into the pulp 150 in the vessel or tank 300 by the force of gravity or be captured. The ramp may be in the form of a discharge tray 500 that is secured to the vibrating mechanism such that vibrations from the vibratory motors 180 are imparted to the material on the discharge tray 500. See, e.g.,
In an example embodiment of the present invention, the slurry that passed through the screen openings in the screening assembly 100 may accumulate within a modified housing 42 and remain isolated from the pulp in the vessel or tank 300. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the modified housing 42 may angle downward to a discharge pipe 190 to increase efficiency of the slurry discharge. See, e.g.,
Combining the improved machines, screens, and motors provides for increased screening efficiencies and flow rates, including increased flow of adsorbent to be discharged by the vibratory screening machines. Because of the increased flow of adsorbent to be discharged, build-up of adsorbent and potential blocking of the screening machine may result. Accordingly, as discussed, embodiments of the present invention may incorporate screening machines having discharge trays 500 that may prevent buildup of adsorbent. See, e.g.
Embodiments of the present invention may allow for retrofitting of an existing sorption system which may increase efficiency, durability and/or recovery of metals. Multiple system configurations may be employed for an inter-stage system, and systems may have one to five or more screening machines per tank. There may be different numbers and/or types of screening machines in different tanks of a single system. In the event that an existing facility has parallel sorption systems running alongside each other, the present invention allows for the systems to be retrofitted in the existing configuration. See, e.g.,
Moreover, two existing five tank systems could be linked together. See, e.g.,
Though discussed in connection with the recovery of gold, the present invention may be adapted for the recovery of a variety of precious metals and/or other metals. The present invention may increase the overall effective recovery from ore by increasing the stages of sorption. In turn, the economic viability of a particular deposit may be increased due to the increased recovery rates provided by the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention provide the opportunity to double the number of stages of sorption without increasing the space for a system.
While the embodiments are described with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventions is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61927265 | Jan 2014 | US |