WO2012078772A2

WO2012078772A2 - Continuous elution process and system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2012078772A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/063765
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cameron Barton
Original assignee: FLSmidth AS
Current assignee: FLSmidth AS
Priority date: 2010-12-09
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-09
Also published as: WO2012078772A3

Abstract

A continuous elution system 100 comprises, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a first vessel 200 having a first inlet 204, a second inlet 208, and a first outlet 212; a second vessel 300 having a third inlet 304 and a second outlet 328; and, a third vessel 400 having a fourth inlet 404 and a third outlet 408. The first outlet 212 of the first vessel 200 is operably connected to the third inlet 304 of the second vessel, the second outlet 328 of the second vessel 300 is operably connected to the fourth inlet 404 of the third vessel, and the third outlet 408 of the third vessel 400 is operably connected to the second inlet 208 of the first vessel 200. Also disclosed, is a continuous elution process 1000.

Description

CONTINUOUS ELUTION PROCESS AND SYSTEM THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods used in metal refining processes, and more particularly, a continuous elution system and method for preparing a pregnant solution.

To this end, there are generally two main processes available for gold concentration and recovery: zinc precipitation, and electrowinning. Zinc precipitation involves crushing and grinding ore containing gold, and then combining the ground ore with a water and caustic cyanide solution. The resulting mud-like pulp is moved to a settling tank where the coarser gold- laden solids move to the bottom via gravity, and a lighter first pregnant solution of water, gold, and cyanide moves to the top and is removed for further processing. The gold-laden solids are agitated and aerated in a separate agitated leach process where oxygen reacts to leach the gold into the water, caustic, and cyanide forming a second pregnant solution. The second pregnant solution passes through a drum filter which further separates remaining solids. The first and second pregnant solutions are combined with zinc to precipitate out the dissolved gold. The resulting precipitated gold concentrate may then be smelted to produce refined gold bar.

Electrowinning typically involves extracting a precious material such as gold from an electrolyte. First,activated carbon is combined with a pregnant gold solution in a batch process step. The activated carbon absorbs gold contained within the pregnant solution, and becomes

"loaded" with gold removed from the pregnant gold solution. The loaded carbon is then descaled by sequentially washing it in three batch process steps to remove ore residue. First, the loaded carbon is moved to a washing tank and then the tank is filled with a dilute acid solution.

The washing tank is then drained and the used dilute acid solution is pumped away and disposed.

The same washing tank is then filled with water to rinse remaining acid from the loaded carbon. The water becomes slightly acidic during this process. In a similar fashion to the dilute acid, the used (slightly acidic) rinse water is also drained from the washing tank, pumped away, and disposed. Lastly, the tank is filled with a caustic solution, and the activated carbon is washed in the caustic. The used caustic is then drained from the tank, pumped away, and disposed. An optional final water rinse step may be performed by again, filling the washing tank with water, rinsing caustic residue from the loaded carbon, and then draining the tank of the caustic water.

The used rinse water is then pumped away and disposed. The loaded carbon is then added to a water, caustic, and cyanide strip solution. The strip solution/loaded carbon slurry then undergoes an elution process where high temperatures and pressures are used to "re-leach" gold from the loaded carbon into the strip solution of water, caustic, and cyanide to form an electrolyte. The electrolyte is then moved to an electrowinning cell where cathodes collect deposited gold concentrate. The cathodes are then removed for cleaning in a batch process step, wherein the gold concentrate is removed from the cathodes for smelting.

As shown in FIG. 15, a conventional batch elution process 900 involves feeding descaled loaded carbon 904 (e.g., carbon loaded with gold and then washed with acid) and/or loaded carbon 902 from an adsorption system into a strip vessel 906. Strip vessel 906 is generally a large cylindrical tank of material suitable for holding reagents at an elevated pressure and temperature (e.g., 138 degrees C - 148 degrees C). The loaded carbon 902, 904 is maintained within the strip vessel 906 at high temperatures and pressure in the presence of a strip solution comprising caustic, water, and cyanide. After a period of time, stripped carbon 942 exits the strip vessel 906 (via valve 908), and is moved to a carbon handling system 910 or carbon regeneration system 912. Hot electrolyte solution 914 is formed as material in the loaded carbon leaches into the strip solution. The hot electrolyte solution 914 is also removed from the strip vessel 906 and passes through a heat exchanger 916 for cooling before entering an inlet of an electrowinning cell 920 or the like. Cooling of hot electrolyte solution 914 to form a lower temperature electrolyte solution 944 is generally necessary to reduce the risk of flashing within in the electrowinning cell 920. The heat exchanger 916, also serves to recycle energy by warming cooler barren solution 926, 930 (e.g., 66 degrees C) returning from a barren solution tank 924 (or from an electrowinning cell 922) and entering the strip vessel 906. Warming of the cooler barren solution 926, 930 to form a hotter barren solution 940 may also be done using a heater 918 in addition to, or in lieu of said heat exchanger 916. One or more pumps 928 are generally used to transfer barren solution 926, 930, 940, 946 to the strip vessel 906. Reagent 932 from a reagent handling system 936 and or solution 934 obtained from a leaching process 938 may be added to barren solution tank 924.

Problems associated with the described elution process 900 are numerous. For instance, the process of stripping loaded carbon to form an electrolyte solution suitable for electrowinning uses batch process steps. This requires constant manpower, time, and energy to continually drain and re-fill the strip vessel 906 with strip solution, hot barren solution 940, and loaded carbon 902, 904 each time more electrolyte solution 944 is needed for electrowinning 920. This leads to high overhead costs (e.g., labor, maintenance), production scheduling hardships, and potential environmental hazard. Furthermore, conventional elution systems are bulky and require large footprints. Moreover, conventional elution systems yield high radiation losses which drive up power consumption and have limited operating flow rates, temperatures, and pressures.

The process of using zinc to precipitate precious metals out of pregnant solutions is also costly, may be less efficient for large-scale operations, works for only certain metals, and may result in less precious metal recovery. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved elution system which is configured for continuous stripping of loaded carbon, thereby avoiding the aforementioned problems associated with conventional batch stripping processes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an elution system which is configured to operate at a higher efficiency than conventional elution systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elution system which is configured to have a smaller footprint than conventional elution systems.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of continuously stripping carbon loaded with a precious material.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a method of stripping loaded carbon having fewer radiation losses and less power consumption than conventional elution processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of stripping loaded carbon at higher flowrates than conventional elution processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of stripping loaded carbon at higher temperatures than conventional elution processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of stripping loaded carbon at higher pressures than conventional elution processes.

Yet another object of the invention is to prevent carbon loss and improve actual precious material recovery.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and description herein. Although every object of the invention is believed to be attained by at least one embodiment of the invention, there is not necessarily any one embodiment of the invention that achieves all of the objects of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A continuous elution system comprises, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a first vessel having a first inlet, a second inlet, and a first outlet; a second vessel having a third inlet and a second outlet; and, a third vessel having a fourth inlet and a third outlet; wherein the first outlet of the first vessel is connected to the third inlet of the second vessel, the second outlet of the second vessel is connected to the fourth inlet of the third vessel, and the third outlet of the third vessel is connected to the second inlet of the first vessel.

According to some embodiments, the system may comprise an influent manifold communicating with the second vessel which may be operably connected to an electrolytic cell. The system may comprise an effluent manifold communicating with the second vessel which may be operably connected to an electrolytic cell. The system may also comprise one or more screens or filters provided within, on, or between at least one of said second vessel and said effluent manifold. The system may comprise one or more pumps to maintain and regulate flow rates. In some embodiments, one or more valves may be provided between the second outlet of the second vessel and the fourth inlet of the third vessel. According to some embodiments, the second vessel may comprise a fluidized bed. The second vessel may comprise one or more baffles, which, by virtue of their arrangement, may define a serpentine flow path within the second vessel.

A continuous elution process is also disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the process comprises the step of providing a continuous elution system

comprising a first vessel having a first inlet, a second inlet, and a first outlet; a second vessel having a third inlet and a second outlet; and, a third vessel having a fourth inlet and a third outlet; wherein the first outlet of the first vessel is connected to the third inlet of the second vessel, the second outlet of the second vessel is connected to the fourth inlet of the third vessel, and the third outlet of the third vessel is connected to the second inlet of the first vessel.

A particulate-containing solution is generally provided to and through at least a portion of the system. Pressure and/or temperature may be increased within at least one of the first and second vessels by steam generated in the third vessel. The process may comprise increasing a residence time of particulate-containing solution within the second vessel, for example, by providing one or more baffles and/or a fluidized bed. According to some embodiments, the particulate-containing solution is fluidized within the second vessel. According to some embodiments particulate, in said particulate-containing solution, may comprise a precious metal. The precious metal may be leached from the particulate to form an electrolyte, which may be screened or filtered and fed to an electrolytic cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a side cutaway view of a continuous elution system according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the continuous elution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of FIG. 1, showing the particulars of a splash vessel according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view of FIG. 2, showing the particulars of a splash vessel according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of FIG. 1, showing the particulars of an elution vessel according to some embodiments; FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of FIG. 2, showing the particulars of an elution vessel according to some embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a detailed cutaway view of an elution vessel shown in FIG. 1, showing an arrangement of internal baffles according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 8-10 show detailed cutaway views of an elution vessel showing different arrangements of internal baffles according to various embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a partial isometric view of FIG. 2, showing the particulars of a flash vessel according to some embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a partial view of FIG. 1, showing the particulars of a flash vessel according to some embodiments;

FIG. 13 shows a plant layout for a continuous elution system according to some embodiments;

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates method of continuous elution according to some embodiments; and,

FIG. 15 schematically shows a conventional batch elution process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-12 show a continuous elution system 100 according to some embodiments. The continuous elution system 100 generally comprises a first "splash" vessel 200, a second "elution" vessel 300, and a third "flash" vessel 400 connected in series via piping sections 506, 508, 510, and a piping section 512 extending between the first 200 and third 400 vessels in parallel. One or more pumps 152, 154, 156 may be provided at various portions of the system 100 in to facilitate flows to, from, and between the vessels 200, 300, 400, other parts of the system, and other systems within a plant. For example, a first piping section 502 may be used to deliver a first stream 802 to a first pump 152. The first stream 802 may be any solution or material capable of being pumped, such as slurry. For example, the first stream 802 may comprise a mixture of a carbonaceous material (e.g., activated carbon) which is loaded with a precious material (e.g., gold) and dispersed within a strip solution comprising water, cyanide, and a caustic. The first stream 802 may be fed through a second piping section 504 which connects to a first inlet 204 of said first vessel 200 via a first inlet mount 202. The first inlet mount 202 may be, for example, a connector, flange, fitting, or other adaptor, and may comprise a first inlet seal 201. It should be known that the first pump 152 and the first piping section may be omitted such that the first stream 802 enters the first vessel 200 directly.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first vessel 200 generally comprises a top end 216, bottom end 218, and one or more sidewalls 220 extending between said top 216 and bottom 218 ends to define a chamber. A purge valve 222 may be provided, for instance, at a lower central region of the first vessel 200 for cleaning and removal of underflow, carbon, etc. The first vessel 200 may stand alone or may be affixed to a floor or other plant equipment or structures via one or more mounting members 214. The one or more mounting members 214 may comprise one or more legs as shown, but may also include portions of frames, bolt holes, flanges, welds, or any other suitable securing means known in the art. The first vessel 200 may also comprise a second inlet 208 having a second inlet mount 206 and a second inlet seal 205 for receiving heated steam through a sixth piping section 512 for energy recycling as will be discussed hereinafter. First vessel 200 also generally comprises a first outlet 212, first outlet mount 210, and first outlet seal 211.

In use, the incoming first stream 802 enters the first vessel 200 and is heated and pressurized, in part or in whole, by the heated steam 814 entering second inlet 208. The resulting solution/slurry is then discharged through the first outlet 212 as a second stream 804. The second stream 804 may enter directly into the second vessel 300, or may pass through a third 506 and/or fourth 508 piping section before entering the second vessel 300. To help regulate flow of the second stream 804, a second pump 154 may be placed between the first 200 and second 300 vessels.

The second vessel 300 generally comprises a first end 306, a second end 308, and one or more sidewalls 310 extending between said first 306 and said second 308 ends to define a chamber. The second vessel 300 may stand alone or may be affixed to a floor or other plant equipment or structures via one or more mounting members 314. The one or more mounting members 314 may comprise one or more legs as shown, but may also include frame portions, bolt holes, flanges, welds, or any other suitable securing means known in the art. The second vessel 300 also comprises a third inlet 304 for receiving a second stream 804 of heated and pressurized solution/slurry. Third inlet 304 may have a third inlet mount 302 and a third inlet seal 301. The incoming stream 804 of heated and pressurized solution/slurry may be, for instance, a solution/slurry of carbon loaded with a precious metal (e.g., gold) in a strip solution comprising water, cyanide, and caustic.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the second vessel 300 comprises a fluidized bed 320 which separates a residence chamber 340 from a fluidizing chamber 350. One or more baffles 318 may be provided within the residence chamber 340 in various configurations (FIGS. 7-10), in order to increase the residence time of the heated and pressurized solution/slurry within the second vessel

300. As shown in FIG. 5, the one or more baffles 318 may be parallel and staggered to create a serpentine flow path for a third stream 806 of hot pressurized solution/slurry. As shown in FIG.

8, the baffles 318' may be parallel and staggered at a predetermined angle. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, sets of parallel and non-parallel baffles 318" may be disposed in an alternating fashion at different predetermined angles. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, baffles 318"' may alternate in succession at different predetermined angles. It should be understood that other baffle patterns and arrangements may be used without limitation, and that the particular shapes, porosities, and/or textures of baffles 318, 318', 318", 318"' may differ from what is shown. For example, while not shown, any one or more of the baffles may comprise folds, bends, curves, corrugations, openings, lattice structures, or the like.

The third stream 806 of hot pressurized solution/slurry flowing through the third vessel 300 may contain a portion of the incoming second stream 804 and incoming fifth stream 810. Fluidizing chamber 350 is fed by an influent manifold 700 comprising one or more influent manifold ports 702 which may each have influent manifold port mounts 710. The influent manifold 700 may be connected directly to the one or more sidewalls 310 of the second vessel 300, or may be connected to the second vessel 300 via one or more influent ports 326 which may have influent port mounts 322. Said fifth stream 810 of solution (e.g., barren solution from an electrowinning cell) flows into the second vessel 300 via the influent manifold 700. The fifth stream 810 enters and fills the fluidizing chamber 350 and flows through fluidized bed 320 to help fluidize and suspend particulates within the residence chamber 340 as they travel along the third stream 806.

An effluent manifold 600 is also provided to the second vessel 300 to extract a fourth stream 808 of electrolyte solution from the residence chamber 340 and deliver said electrolyte solution to another system, process, or apparatus (e.g., an electrowinning cell). Effluent manifold 600 comprises one or more effluent manifold ports 602 which may each be provided with an effluent manifold port mount 610 for ease of connection to the second vessel 300.

Similarly to the influent manifold 700, the effluent manifold 600 may be connected directly to the one or more sidewalls 310 of the vessel 300, or may be connected to the vessel 300 via one or more effluent ports 316 which may be provided with effluent port mounts 312. While in the residence chamber 340 of the second vessel 300, loaded carbon within the third stream 806 is exposed to strip solution reagents under high temperature and pressure conditions. The reagents in the strip solution act to strip the carbon of its contents (e.g., gold), and/or "re-leach" its contents into the solution. One or more screens or filters 324 may be provided between the residence chamber 340 and the effluent manifold 600 in order to extract a clarified fourth stream 808 of electrolyte solution from the second vessel 300 and/or prevent stripped carbon from passing downstream of the effluent manifold 600,. In some embodiments, as shown, the placement of said screens or filters 324 may be at the interface between the effluent ports and the one or more sidewalls 310 of the second vessel. However, the screens or filters 324 may be provided in other locations without limitation, for instance: within the effluent manifold 600, at the interface between the effluent manifold 600 and the second vessel 300 (e.g., between mounts 610 and 312), or downstream of said effluent manifold 600. It should be known that one or more seals 605, 705 may be placed between the influent 700 or effluent 600 manifolds and the second vessel 300. The fourth stream 808 of electrolyte solution may be carried and/or pumped away from the second vessel for secondary processing (e.g.,

electro winning).

Fluidized carbon and solution within the third stream 806 continues to move along the serpentine path in the residence chamber 340 until it reaches and passes through a second outlet

328. The second outlet 328 of the second vessel 300 may comprise a second outlet mount 330 and/or a second outlet seal 329 for connecting to a fifth piping section 510 having a valve 120.

The valve 120 may be of any sort known in the art, such as a ball or cone valve without limitation, and one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the valve may be directly coupled to, or formed integrally with the second vessel 300. Moreover, an additional piping section may be added between the second outlet 328 and the valve 120. The third stream 806 of hot and highly pressurized solution/carbon slurry exiting the second vessel 300 "flashes" as it passes through valve 120, and drops in pressure. The resulting sixth stream 812 passes into a third vessel 400 via a fourth inlet 404, where, due to the lower operating pressure of the third vessel 400, a seventh stream 814 of heated steam escapes through a third outlet 408. A fourth outlet 412 carries an eighth stream 816 of spent concentrated solution and spent carbon to a seventh piping section 514. The spent concentrated solution may comprise caustic, cyanide, and water, and the spent carbon may comprise a combination of stripped carbon and a very small amount of carbon which may still be loaded with a precious material (e.g., gold).

The eighth stream 816 may be subsequently screened or filtered in a downstream process. For example, spent solution in the eighth stream 816 may be separated from spent carbon, and sent as underflow to a holding tank which feeds the first stream 802 and first piping section 502. Moreover, spent carbon which is separated from spent solution may be sent to a kiln or wash vessel for regeneration/reactivation. Such filtering/separation of said eighth stream 816 may be performed using a two-stage screen, wherein a first stage removes a majority of the spent solution from spent carbon, and a second stage removes residual caustic and/or cyanide from the spent carbon before the spent carbon enters a kiln or wash vessel.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the third vessel 400 generally comprises a top end 416, bottom end 418, and one or more sidewalls 420 extending therebetween to form a chamber. The third vessel 400 may stand alone or may be affixed to a floor or other plant equipment or structures via one or more mounting members 414. The one or more mounting members 414 may comprise one or more legs as shown, but may also include frames, bolt holes, flanges, welds, or any other suitable securing means known in the art. The inlet 404 and outlets 408, 412 of the third vessel 400 may similarly comprise mounts 402, 406, 410 and/or seals 401, 405, 417 for easy attachment to piping sections and/or other components within the continuous elution system 100.

Turning now to FIG. 13, a continuous elution system 1100 having a wider, shorter footprint than the system shown in FIGS. 1-12 is shown. The system 1100 comprises a first "splash" vessel 1200, a second "elution" vessel 1300 fed by an influent manifold 1700, and a third "flash" vessel 1400. Pumps 1152, 1154, 1156 are disposed within the system and between said vessels 1200, 1300, 1400 to facilitate flows therebetween. An effluent manifold 1600 is also provided to the second vessel 1300 to extract carbon-free electrolyte solution therefrom. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the second vessel 1300 is generally larger than the first 1200 and third 1400 vessels; however, actual dimensions may vary.

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates a continuous elution process according to some embodiments. The process begins with the production 1002 of activated carbon loaded with a material such as a precious material (e.g., gold). The carbon may be loaded through any adsorption process known in the art, and may be cleaned or descaled using any conventional wash process (e.g., acid wash). The loaded carbon is mixed with a strip solution containing one or more reagents such as water, cyanide, and caustic, and then loaded 1004 into a first "splash" vessel which is configured to elevate the temperature and/or pressure of the loaded carbon/strip solution slurry. After increasing the temperature and/or pressure 1006 of the first vessel, the hot pressurized loaded carbon/strip solution slurry is transported to and fed 1008 into a second "elution" vessel. The hot pressurized loaded carbon/strip solution slurry is kept within the second vessel for an increased residence time 1010, for instance, by providing a fluidized bed alone or in combination with a plurality of baffles in order to elongate the physical travel path of the loaded carbon/strip solution slurry between a first end of the second vessel to a second end of the second vessel. During its time of residence in the second vessel, the loaded carbon is stripped of its precious material by said reagents, and the solution dissolves and becomes saturated with said precious material to form an electrolyte solution. The solution is extracted 1018 from the second vessel, screened to remove carbon therefrom, and then fed 1020 to an electrowinning system (e.g., an electrolytic cell) for precious material recovery. Concentrates in the form of sludge and/or cathode deposits may be removed 1034 from the electrowinning system for further processing 1036. After the electrowinning process 1022 is completed, the barren or used electrolyte solution is removed 1024, and fed 1026 back into the second vessel directly, or indirectly (e.g., via a barren solution holding tank).

Solution (pregnant, barren, and mixes thereof) and carbon (activated, loaded, stripped, and combinations thereof) are eventually removed from the second vessel, and the solution fraction "flashed" or at least partially vaporized 1012 before entering a third vessel. The process is completed 1038 by recovering 1014 heated steam from the rapid evaporation process and piping it back to the first vessel, in order to efficiently increase the temperature and pressure of the first vessel 1006.

It should be known that the particular features and suggested uses of the continuous elution systems 100 and methods shown and described herein are exemplary in nature and should not limit the scope of the invention. For example, fluidized bed 320 may be replaced with, or used in combination with one or more mechanical or forced air agitators (not shown) to suspend particulate in third stream 806. Moreover, the number of baffles 318, 318', 318", 318"' may be greater or less than what is shown, in order to provide the particular residence times and flow rates needed for a particular process. Additionally, one or more additional vessels 200, 300, 400;

1200, 1300, 1400 may be added to a continuous elution system 100; 1000 and placed in series or parallel with other vessels 200, 300, 400; 1200, 1300, 1400 to increase throughput. For example, two or three third vessels 300; 1300 may be directly or indirectly coupled to each other in parallel, and placed in series between a single first vessel 200; 1200 and a single third vessel 400; 1400.

A contractor or other entity may provide a continuous elution system in part or in whole as shown and described. For instance, the contractor may receive a bid request for a project related to designing an elution system for stripping a particulate (e.g., carbon) loaded with a precious material (e.g., gold), or the contractor may offer to design such a system for a client. The contractor may then provide, for example, any one or more of the devices or features thereof shown and/or described in the embodiments discussed above. The contractor may provide such devices by selling those devices or by offering to sell those devices. The contractor may provide various embodiments that are sized, shaped, and/or otherwise configured to meet the design criteria of a particular client or customer. The contractor may subcontract the fabrication, delivery, sale, or installation of a component of the devices or of other devices used to provide such devices. The contractor may also survey a site and design or designate one or more storage areas for stacking the material used to manufacture the devices. The contractor may also maintain, modify, or upgrade the provided devices. The contractor may provide such

maintenance or modifications by subcontracting such services or by directly providing those services or components needed for said maintenance or modifications, and in some cases, the contractor may modify an existing system with a "retrofit kit" to arrive at a modified system comprising one or more devices or features of the systems and processes discussed herein.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example, particulates and carriers other than carbon (e.g., polymers or ion exchange resins) may be used with the disclosed systems and processes. Moreover, reagents other than water, cyanide, and caustic may be used to strip the particulates.

Furthermore, the disclosed systems and processes may be used to recover numerous types of materials including, but not limited to copper, gold, silver, platinum, uranium, lead, zinc, aluminium, chromium, cobalt, manganese, rare-earth and alkali metals, etc. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

Reference numeral identifiers

100 System 405 Third outlet seal

120 Flash valve 406 Third outlet mount

152 First pump 408 Third outlet

154 Second pump 410 Fourth outlet mount

156 Third pump 412 Fourth outlet

200 First vessel (e.g., splash) 414 Mounting member

201 First inlet seal 416 Top end

202 First inlet mount 417 Second outlet seal

204 First inlet 418 Bottom end

205 Second inlet seal 420 One or more sidewalls

206 Second inlet mount 502 First piping

208 Second inlet 504 Second piping

210 First outlet mount 506 Third piping

211 First outlet seal 508 Fourth piping

212 First outlet 510 Fifth piping

214 Mounting member 512 Sixth piping

216 Top end 514 Seventh piping

218 Bottom end 600 Effluent manifold

220 One or more sidewalls 605 Effluent manifold seal

222 Purge 602 Effluent manifold port

300 Second vessel (e.g., elution) 610 Effluent manifold port mount

301 Third inlet seal 700 Influent manifold

302 Third inlet mount 702 Influent manifold port

304 Third inlet 705 Influent manifold seal

306 First end 710 Influent manifold port mount

308 Second end 802 First stream

310 One or more sidewalls 804 Second stream

312 Effluent port mount 806 Third stream

314 Mounting member 808 Fourth stream

316 Effluent port 810 Fifth stream

318 Baffle 812 Sixth stream

320 Fluidized bed 814 S eventh stream

322 Influent port mount 816 Eighth stream

324 Filter (e.g., disk screen) 900-946 Prior art system

326 Influent port 1000-1038 Process and steps

328 Second outlet 1100 System

329 Second outlet seal 1152 First pump

330 Second outlet mount 1154 Second pump

340 Residence chamber 1156 Third pump

350 Fluidizing chamber 1200 First vessel (e.g., splash)

400 Third vessel (e.g., flash) 1300 Second vessel (e.g., elution)

401 Fourth inlet seal 1400 Third vessel (e.g., flash)

402 Fourth inlet mount 1600 Effluent manifold

404 Fourth inlet 1700 Influent manifold

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A continuous elution system [100] comprising:

a first vessel [200] having an inlet [208] and an outlet [212];

a second vessel [300] having an inlet [304] and an outlet [328]; and,

a third [400] vessel having an inlet [404] and an outlet [408];

wherein the outlet [212] of the first vessel [200] is operably connected to the inlet [304] of the second vessel [300], the outlet [328] of the second vessel [300] is operably connected to the inlet [404] of the third vessel [400], and the outlet [408] of the third vessel [400] is operably connected to the inlet [208] of the first vessel [200].

2. The system [100] according to claim 1, further comprising an influent manifold [700] communicating with the second vessel [300].

3. The system [100] according to claim 2, wherein said influent manifold [700] is operably connected to an electrolytic cell.

4. The system [100] according to claim 1, further comprising an effluent manifold [600] communicating with the second vessel [300].

5. The system [100] according to claim 4, wherein said effluent manifold [600] is operably connected to an electrolytic cell.

6. The system [100] according to claim 4, further comprising one or more screens or filters configured to prevent particulate from passing downstream.

7. The system [100] according to claim 1, further comprising one or more pumps [152; 154; 156].

8. The system [100] according to claim 1, further comprising a valve [120] configured to flash solution leaving the second vessel [300].

9. The system [100] according to claim 1, wherein said second vessel [300] further comprises a fluidized bed [320].

10. The system [100] according to claim 1, wherein said second vessel [300] further comprises one or more internal baffles [318].

11. The system [100] according to claim 10, wherein said one or more baffles [318], by virtue of their arrangement, define at least a portion of a serpentine flow path [806] within the second vessel [300].

12. A continuous elution process comprising the step of providing a continuous elution system [100], the continuous elution system [100] comprising: a first vessel [200] having an inlet [208] and an outlet [212]; a second vessel [300] having an inlet [304] and an outlet [328]; and, a third vessel [400] having an inlet [404] and an outlet [408]; wherein the outlet [212] of the first vessel [200] is operably connected to the inlet [304] of the second vessel [300], the outlet [328] of the second vessel [300] is operably connected to the inlet [404] of the third vessel [400], and the outlet [408] of the third vessel [400] is operably connected to the inlet [208] of the first vessel [200].

13. The process according to claim 12, further comprising the step of continuously providing a particulate-containing solution/slurry to, through, or from at least a portion of said system.

14. The process according to claim 13, wherein particulate in said particulate-containing solution/slurry comprises at least one of: a precious metal, a caustic, an aqueous component, or cyanide.

15. The process according to claim 14, further comprising the step of leaching said precious metal from the particulate to form an electrolyte solution

16. The process according to claim 12, further comprising the step of increasing a pressure and/or temperature of at least one of said first [200] and second [300] vessels using steam generated in said third vessel [400].

17. The process according to claim 12, further comprising the step of increasing a residence time of particulate-containing solution/slurry within said second vessel [300].

18. The process according to claim 12, further comprising the step of fluidizing particulate- containing solution/slurry within said second vessel [300].

19. The process according to claim 12, further comprising the step of screening or filtering particulate-containing solution/slurry.

20. The process according to claim 12, further comprising the step of feeding an electrolytic cell with particulate-containing solution/slurry.

21. A continuous elution system [100] comprising an elution vessel [300] having a fluidized bed [320].

22. The continuous elution system [100] according to claim 21, wherein said elution vessel [300] further comprises one or more baffles [318] configured for increasing residence time of particulate-containing solution/slurry within said elution vessel [300].

23. The continuous elution system [100] according to claim 21, wherein said elution vessel [300] further comprises at least one of an influent manifold [700] and an effluent manifold [600], wherein said influent manifold [700] and said effluent manifold [600] are each configured to be operably connected to an electrolytic cell.

24. The continuous elution system [100] according to claim 21, further comprising a splash vessel [400] operably connected to the elution vessel [300].

25. The continuous elution system [100] according to claim 21, further comprising a flash vessel [400] operably connected to the elution vessel [300].

26. The continuous elution system [100] according to claim 21, further comprising a valve [120] configured to vaporize solution exiting the elution vessel [300].