1. A method for recovering a metal from a substrate comprising a metal sulphide, metal oxide, or combination thereof, the method comprising:
a) contacting the substrate with an aqueous oxidant to oxidize the metal sulphide to elemental sulphur and oxidized metal andor to convert the metal oxide to metal salt;
b) contacting the oxidized metal and metal salt with ammonium hydroxide to form a soluble metal ammine complex to obtain a leachate and residual solids;
c) separating the leachate from the residual solids; and
d) recovering the metal from one or more of the leachate and the residual solids.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble peroxide, a water-soluble perchlorate, a water-soluble hypochlorite and ferric iron.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the aqueous oxidant is ferric iron, optionally further comprising an acid.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the water-soluble hypochlorite is sodium hypochlorite.
5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the substrate comprises silver, copper, zinc, gold, lead, or a combination thereof.
6. The method of any one of claims 1-5 further comprising precipitation of the metal from the leachate.
7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the substrate is electric arc furnace dust, steel dust, foundry dust, tailings, crushed ore, mine sludge, or a combination thereof.
8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, further comprising, after one or more of steps a)-d), filtering to obtain a solid and a pregnant solution.
9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the ammonium hydroxide is at a pH of 9 or above.
10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the aqueous oxidant is in an amount sufficient to oxidize all of the metal sulphide andor metal oxide in the substrate.
11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein a desired oxidation potential of the aqueous oxidant for steps a) and b) is maintained by reagent addition.
12. The method of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the substrate comprises lead, and step b) further comprises contacting the oxidized metal with an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount to form soluble alkali metal plumbate.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
14. The method of any one of claims 1-13, further comprising recycling one or more of the oxidant and the ammonium hydroxide.
15. A method for selective leaching of lead and at least one of silver and copper from a substrate comprising metal sulphides comprising lead sulphide and at least one of silver sulphide and copper sulphide comprising:
a) contacting the substrate with an aqueous oxidant in an amount sufficient to oxidize the metal sulphides to elemental sulphur and oxidized metal;
b) contacting the oxidized metal with an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount sufficient to form soluble plumbate ion and ammonium hydroxide to form a soluble metal ammine complex of at least one of silver and copper to obtain a leachate and residual solids;
c) separating the leachate from the residual solids; and
d) recovering at least one of silver and copper from at least one of the leachate and the residual solids.
16. The method of any one of claim 15, wherein the aqueous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble peroxide, a water-soluble perchlorate, a water-soluble hypochlorite and ferric iron.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the aqueous oxidant is ferric iron, optionally further comprising an acid.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the water-soluble hypochlorite is sodium hypochlorite.
19. A method for recovering a metal from a substrate comprising a metal oxide, the method comprising:
a) contacting the substrate with an aqueous oxidant or lixiviant to convert the metal oxide into a metal salt;
b) contacting the metal salt with ammonium hydroxide to form a soluble metal ammine complex to obtain a leachate and residual solids;
c) separating the leachate from the residual solids; and
d) recovering the metal from one or more of the leachate and the residual solids.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the aqueous oxidant or lixiviant comprises a water-soluble peroxide, a water-soluble perchlorate, a water-soluble hypochlorite, an acid or a combination thereof.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the water-soluble hypochlorite is sodium hypochlorite.
22. The method of any one of claims 19-21, wherein the substrate comprises silver, copper, zinc, gold, lead, or a combination thereof.
23. The method of any one of claims 19-22 further comprising precipitation of the metal from the leachate.
24. The method of any one of claims 19-23, wherein the substrate is electric arc furnace dust, steel dust, foundry dust, tailings, crushed ore, mine sludge, or a combination thereof.
25. The method of any one of claims 19-24, further comprising, after one or more of steps a)-d), filtering to obtain a solid and a pregnant solution.
26. The method of any one of claims 19-25, wherein the ammonium hydroxide is at a pH of 9 or above.
27. The method of any one of claims 19-26, wherein the aqueous oxidant or lixiviant is in an amount sufficient to oxidize all of the metal oxide to metal salt.
28. The method of any one of claims 19-27, wherein a desired oxidation potential of the aqueous oxidant or lixiviant for steps a) and b) is maintained by reagent addition.
29. The method of any one of claims 19-28, wherein the substrate comprises lead, and step b) further comprises contacting the oxidized metal with an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount to form soluble alkali metal plumbate.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
31. The method of any one of claims 19-15, further comprising recycling one or more of the aqueous oxidant, lixiviant and the ammonium hydroxide.
32. A metal obtained by the method of any one of claims 1-31.
33. The metal of claim 32, which is silver, copper, zinc, gold or lead.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks comprising:
an information source element configured to provide data to a data service element which uses the provided data to register with a directory service element; and wherein a client subsequently requests a service from a directory service polling subelement, which sends a lookup query to the directory service which, in turn provides services matching those requested by the client, to a candidate service filtering subelement, where candidate services are isolated, and are submitted to a target service filtering subelement; where target services are isolated and provided to the client and the isolated candidate services serve as the basis for registering the client’s interest with a client update decision subelement and the client update decision subelement provides an updated service entry of candidate services to the target service filtering subelement and the directory service update decision subelement provides an updated service entry to the directory service.
2. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 1, wherein the information source is at least one of the following:
i. a permanently mounted video camera,
ii. a video camera affixed to a vehicle,
iii. a strategically placed environmental sensor,
iv. an environmental sensor affixed to a vehicle,
V. a satellite based position sensor affixed to a vehicle.
3. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data service element includes at least one element from the list consisting of:
a computer configured to perform pre-specified functions;
a device configured to respond to operator instructions; a device configured to respond to external instructions; a device configured to respond to internal system instructions; and
an application-specific integrated circuit; a preprogrammed logic circuit.
4. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 1, wherein the client is in a mobile vehicle and the information source includes at least one of the following:
i. a terrestrially mounted temperature sensor;
ii. a terrestrially mounted video camera;
iii. a vehicle mounted satellite based position indicator;
iv. a vehicle mounted video camera.
5. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 1, wherein the client has a mobility pattern consistent with that of a pedestrian, and the information source is a plurality of sources including a vehicle and a stationary sensor.
6. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 1, wherein the updated service entry is periodically updated even in the absence of an existing client, and wherein the data service and the directory service are located in a location remote from the personal lookup agent.
7. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 1, wherein the information source is located in at least one location, and the directory service, data service and personal lookup agent are in at least one other location.
8. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 7, wherein the information source is located in at least one location, and the directory service, data service and personal lookup agent are in at least one other general location and at least two of the elements are physically interconnected and at least two of the parts are interconnected using wireless based technology.
9. The apparatus for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 8, wherein the operative interconnect between the information source and the client, is characterized by at least one wireless link.
10. A method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks comprising:
i. providing an information source element;
ii. providing a data service element including at least one of the following:
a. a directory service update decision subelement and a
b. a client update decision subelement
iii. providing a directory service;
iv. providing a personal lookup agent, including at least one of the following subelements:
v. a directory service polling subelement
vi. a candidate service filtering subelement;
vii. a target service filtrating subelement;
wherein the information source is configured to provide data to the data service element; which is configured to register with the directory service element; and
wherein a client requests a service from the personal lookup agent’s directory service polling subelement which sends a lookup query to the directory service which provides services matching those services requested to the candidate service filtering subelement; and wherein the resulting isolated candidate services are submitted to a target service filtering subelement; and wherein the isolated target services are provided to the client; and wherein the isolated candidate services serve as the basis for registering the client’s interest with the client update decision subelement; and
wherein the client update decision subelement provides an updated service entry of candidate services to the target service filtering subelement and wherein the directory service update decision subelement provides an updated service entry to the directory service element and wherein the candidate services serve as the basis for the personal lookup agent element’s registration of interests with the client update decision subelement which is fed by the information source element.
11. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10 wherein after the initial service lookup utilizing the directory service element, the client contact with the information source subelement, via the personal lookup agent element is substantially confined to the client update decision subelement.
12. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10, wherein the information source is configured to provide data to the data service in at least one of the following manners:
i. utilizing a permanently mounted video camera,
ii. utilizing a video camera affixed to a vehicle,
iii. utilizing a strategically placed environmental sensor,
iv. utilizing an environmental sensor affixed to a vehicle,
V. utilizing a satellite based position sensor affixed to a vehicle.
13. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10, wherein the data service element includes utilizing at least one of the following:
i. a computer configured to perform pre-specified functions
ii. a device configured to respond to operator instructions;
iii. a device configured to respond to external instructions;
iv. a device configured to respond to internal system instructions;
V. an application-specific integrated circuit;
vi. a preprogrammed logic circuit.
14. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10, wherein the client is in a mobile vehicle and the information source utilizes at least one of the following:
i. a terrestrially mounted temperature sensor;
ii. a terrestrially mounted video camera;
iii. a vehicle mounted satellite based position indicator;
iv. a vehicle mounted video camera.
15. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10, wherein the client is a pedestrian, and the information source utilizes a plurality of sources including a vehicle and a stationary sensor.
16. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10, wherein the updated service entry is periodically updated even in the absence of an existing client, and wherein the data service and the directory service are located in a location remote from the personal lookup agent.
17. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 10, utilizing the information source in at least one location, and utilizing the directory service, data service and personal lookup agent in at least one other location.
18. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 17, wherein the information source is utilized in at least one location, and the directory service, data service and personal lookup agent are utilized at least one other general location and at least two of the elements are utilized while physically interconnected and at least two of the elements are utilized while interconnected using wireless based technology.
19. The method for providing context sensitive dynamic data via wireless networks as set forth in claim 18, wherein the operative interconnect between the information source and the client, is characterized by utilizing at least one wireless link.