Binder compositions for agglomerating iron ore fines are provided, the compositions comprising: one or more types of modified starch and one or more types of synthetic dry polymers. A process for preparing iron ore pellets with the binder compositions is also provided, the process comprising: (i) adding a binder composition to particulate iron ore to form a mixture; and (ii) forming the mixture into pellets.

An oxidative bioleaching process for leaching a base metal from an ore that includes an ore agglomeration step, an ore stacking step wherein agglomerated ore is stacked to form a heap, a curing step, a rinse step, an inoculation step and a leach step, and wherein, during the ore agglomeration step, the ore is contacted with an acid solution containing nitrate or nitrite thereby to accelerate tthe leaching rate in the leach step.

An oxidative bioleaching process for leaching a base metal from an ore that includes an ore agglomeration step, an ore stacking step wherein agglomerated ore is stacked to form a heap, a curing step, a rinse step, an inoculation step and a leach step, and wherein, during the ore agglomeration step, the ore is contacted with an acid solution containing nitrate or nitrite thereby to accelerate tthe leaching rate in the leach step.

The alunite ore processing method consists of crushing, grinding and flotation of raw alunite ore. The enriched alunite ore is roasted at 520 to 620 C., the roasting time is 1 to 3 hours. The roasted alunite is leached with 5 to 20% sodium carbonate solution, which is in 100 to 110% of the stoichiometric amount required to bond the SO.sub.3 aluminum sulfate in the alunite with leaching conditions of 70-100 C. for 0.5-2.0 hours. The obtained slurry contains all of the potassium sulfate from the alunite and all of the sodium sulfate obtained from sodium carbonate. In the insoluble residue remains all aluminium oxide and residual rock. The sulfate solution is separated from the insoluble residue and is converted with potassium chloride to potassium sulphate (fertilizer) and kitchen salt. The insoluble residue is treated by the Bayer method without the use of an autoclave and results in aluminium oxide (alumina) and quartz sand.

The alunite ore processing method consists of crushing, grinding and flotation of raw alunite ore. The enriched alunite ore is roasted at 520 to 620 C., the roasting time is 1 to 3 hours. The roasted alunite is leached with 5 to 20% sodium carbonate solution, which is in 100 to 110% of the stoichiometric amount required to bond the SO.sub.3 aluminum sulfate in the alunite with leaching conditions of 70-100 C. for 0.5-2.0 hours. The obtained slurry contains all of the potassium sulfate from the alunite and all of the sodium sulfate obtained from sodium carbonate. In the insoluble residue remains all aluminium oxide and residual rock. The sulfate solution is separated from the insoluble residue and is converted with potassium chloride to potassium sulphate (fertilizer) and kitchen salt. The insoluble residue is treated by the Bayer method without the use of an autoclave and results in aluminium oxide (alumina) and quartz sand.

The present invention relates to an autocatalytic reductive chemical procedure with solid-solid interaction in conditions of supersaturation of salts, via the phenomenon of efflorescence in order to dissolve a copper metal, from a metallogenically primary ore or chalcopyrite concentrate that contains same. The method comprises two steps, referred to as Reductive Activation Step and Dry Autocatalytic Reductive Transformation Step or efflorescence, which can be repeated as many times as necessary to maximise the extraction of copper or base metal of interest. The invention can also be used for sulphurised base metals such as nickel, zinc, cobalt, lead and molybdenum, among others, regardless of the common impurities of sulphurised ores, as occurs with the presence of arsenic.

A process for obtaining vanadium component in the form of vanadium oxide from gasifier slag is disclosed. The process comprises pulverizing the slag to obtain pulverized slag, which is blended with water and an alkali salt to obtain a slurry. The slurry is dried and then roasted in the presence of air to obtain a roasted slag. The roasted slag is leached to obtain a first filtrate comprising the vanadium component. The first filtrate is reacted with a magnesium salt to remove a silica component in the form of a precipitate. The silica free second filtrate is reacted with an ammonium salt to obtain ammonium metavanadate, which is further calcined to obtain the significant amount of vanadium pentoxide (V.sub.2O.sub.5).

A process for obtaining vanadium component in the form of vanadium oxide from gasifier slag is disclosed. The process comprises pulverizing the slag to obtain pulverized slag, which is blended with water and an alkali salt to obtain a slurry. The slurry is dried and then roasted in the presence of air to obtain a roasted slag. The roasted slag is leached to obtain a first filtrate comprising the vanadium component. The first filtrate is reacted with a magnesium salt to remove a silica component in the form of a precipitate. The silica free second filtrate is reacted with an ammonium salt to obtain ammonium metavanadate, which is further calcined to obtain the significant amount of vanadium pentoxide (V.sub.2O.sub.5).

The present invention relates to a method for preparing mineral ore powder using vegetable organic matters and microorganisms, particularly a method for preparing mineral ore powder by heating and pulverizing seven (7) minerals that are beneficial to the human body but contain toxins and impurities at high temperatures in a furnace, removing toxin gases and impurities through carbonization, and drying the minerals for two days with liquid or powdered vegetable organic matters and microorganisms at room temperature.

The present invention provides a method for preparing mineral ore powder, the method comprising a step of pulverizing seven (7) minerals consisting of 20% of zeolite, 10% of hornblende, 10% of elvan, 10% of illite, 10% of biotite, 20% of tourmaline and 10% of white clay into 325 mesh; a step of discharging impurities by heating the pulverized mineral powder at a temperature of 1,100 C. for a few days; a step of preparing a mineral ore powder by adding microorganisms and liquid or pulverized vegetable organic matters consisting of 30% of mulberry bark, 25% of pine needles, 20% of cypress, 15% of ginger plant and 15% of bush clover; and a step of drying the mineral ore powder at a temperature of 30 C. for 2 days to activate the microorganisms.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing mineral ore powder using vegetable organic matters and microorganisms, particularly a method for preparing mineral ore powder by heating and pulverizing seven (7) minerals that are beneficial to the human body but contain toxins and impurities at high temperatures in a furnace, removing toxin gases and impurities through carbonization, and drying the minerals for two days with liquid or powdered vegetable organic matters and microorganisms at room temperature.

The present invention provides a method for preparing mineral ore powder, the method comprising a step of pulverizing seven (7) minerals consisting of 20% of zeolite, 10% of hornblende, 10% of elvan, 10% of illite, 10% of biotite, 20% of tourmaline and 10% of white clay into 325 mesh; a step of discharging impurities by heating the pulverized mineral powder at a temperature of 1,100 C. for a few days; a step of preparing a mineral ore powder by adding microorganisms and liquid or pulverized vegetable organic matters consisting of 30% of mulberry bark, 25% of pine needles, 20% of cypress, 15% of ginger plant and 15% of bush clover; and a step of drying the mineral ore powder at a temperature of 30 C. for 2 days to activate the microorganisms.