1. A treatment process comprising the steps of:
a) providing a feed stream comprising an elemental sulfur-bearing material and a dispersant, wherein said elemental sulfur-bearing material comprises an elemental sulfur-containing residue from a pressure leaching operation;
b) pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed stream at a temperature in the range of about 220\xb0 C. to about 275\xb0 C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere in an agitated multiple-compartment pressure leaching vessel to form a product slurry comprising a sulfuric acid solution;
c) separating at least a portion of said sulfuric acid solution from said product slurry to yield a residue;
d) recovering at least one metal value from said residue.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein said elemental sulfur-bearing material comprises an elemental sulfur-containing residue from a pressure leaching operation carried out at a temperature in the range of about 140\xb0 C. to about 180\xb0 C.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein said step of recovering metal values from said residue comprises recovering at least one precious metal from said residue.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein said step of pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed stream comprises pressure leaching at temperatures above about 235\xb0 C.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a feed stream comprising an elemental sulfur-bearing material and a dispersant comprises providing a feed stream comprising an elemental sulfur-bearing material and a sufficient amount of ground sand or mineral processing tailings.
6. A treatment process comprising the steps of:
a) providing a feed stream comprising an elemental sulfur-bearing material, wherein said elemental sulfur-bearing material comprises an elemental sulfur-containing residue from a pressure leaching operation;
b) pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed stream in the presence of a dispersant at a temperature in the range of about 220\xb0 C. to about 275\xb0 C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere in an agitated multiple-compartment pressure leaching vessel to form a product slurry comprising a sulfuric acid solution;
c) separating at least a portion of said sulfuric acid solution from said product slurry to yield a residue;
d) recovering at least one metal value from said residue.
7. The process of claim 6, wherein said elemental sulfur-bearing material comprises an elemental sulfur-containing residue from a pressure leaching operation carried out at a temperature in the range of about 140\xb0 C. to about 180\xb0 C.
8. The process of claim 6 wherein said step of recovering metal values from said residue comprises recovering at least one precious metal from said residue.
9. The process of claim 6 wherein said step of pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed stream in the presence of a dispersant comprises pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed stream in the presence of a sufficient amount of ground sand or mineral processing tailings.
10. A process for recovering metal values from an elemental sulfur-bearing solid residue of a pressure leaching process carried out at a temperature in the range of about 140\xb0 C. to about 180\xb0 C., the process comprising the steps of:
a) comminuting the elemental sulfur-bearing solid residue from the pressure leaching process carried out at a temperature in the range of about 140\xb0 C. to about 180\xb0 C. to produce a feed material;
b) forming a feed slurry by combining said feed material with a dispersant and a sufficient amount of fluid medium;
c) pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed slurry at a temperature in the range of about 220\xb0 C. to about 275\xb0 C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to yield a pressure leach product slurry comprising a sulfuric acid solution;
d) reducing the temperature and pressure of said product slurry;
e) separating at least a portion of said sulfuric acid solution from said product slurry to yield a solid residue;
f) recovering at least one metal value from said solid residue.
11. The process of claim 10 wherein said step of recovering at least one metal value from said solid residue comprises recovering one or more precious metals contained in said residue.
12. The process of claim 10 wherein said step of reducing the temperature and pressure of said product slurry comprises flashing said product slurry.
13. The process of claim 10, said process further comprising the step of utilizing at least a portion of said sulfuric acid solution in connection with other processing operations.
14. The process of claim 10 wherein said step of pressure leaching at least a portion of said feed slurry is conducted at a temperature in the range in excess of about 235\xb0 C.
15. The process of claim 10 wherein said step of forming a feed slurry comprises combining said feed material with a sufficient amount of ground sand or mineral processing tailings.
16. A process for the production of sulfuric acid and recovery of precious metals from an elemental sulfur-bearing material comprising the steps of:
a) providing an elemental sulfur-bearing material, wherein said elemental sulfur-bearing material comprises an elemental sulfur-containing residue from a pressure leaching operation;
b) pressure leaching said elemental sulfur-bearing material at a temperature in the range of about 220\xb0 C. to about 275\xb0 C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere in an, agitated multiple-compartment pressure leaching vessel to form a product slurry comprising a sulfuric acid solution;
c) adding a dispersant during said pressure leaching step;
d) separating at least a portion of said sulfuric acid solution from said product slurry to yield a solid residue;
e) recovering at least one precious metal value from said solid residue.
17. The process of claim 16 wherein said step of providing an elemental sulfur-bearing material comprises providing an elemental sulfur-containing residue from a pressure leaching operation carried out at a temperature in the range of about 140\xb0 C. to about 180\xb0 C.
18. The process of claim 16 wherein said step of pressure leaching comprises pressure leaching at a temperature of about 235\xb0 C.
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. Toilet cleaning apparatus, said apparatus including dispensing means for dispensing fluid therefrom for cleaning said toilet and connection means for connecting said dispensing means to a fluid supply for providing a source of fluid to the dispensing means in use, said dispensing means including a housing having fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means, and wherein said housing includes two or more parts and said parts are rotatably mounted to each other in use.
2. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the two or more parts of said housing are provided with complementary screw threaded portions to allow said parts to be rotatably mounted to each other.
3. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said two or more parts are detachably attached to each other in use.
4. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a compartment is defined in said housing and access to said compartment is provided by separating two or more of said housing parts.
5. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a cleaning medium is contained in said compartment in use.
6. Toilet cleaning apparatus according claim 4 wherein the compartment is substantially elongate in form and is provided substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing.
7. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the compartment is provided with location means for maintaining the position of a cleaning medium within the compartment in use.
8. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing means includes control means for allowing a user to control the flow of fluid therethrough, the control means being actuated by at least partial rotation of one or more of said housing parts.
9. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein gripping means are provided on the exterior surface of at least the housing part associated with the control means.
10. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said gripping means includes one or more protrusions protruding outwardly from an exterior surface of said housing part.
11. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein fluid flow control means are provided in said dispensing means for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.
12. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein pressure control means are provided in said dispensing means for controlling the pressure of fluid flowing therethrough.
13. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes at least three detachably attached parts; a first part with fluid outlet means associated therewith, a second part with fluid inlet means associated therewith and an intermediate part provided between said first and second parts.
14. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a compartment is defined in said intermediate part.
15. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a substantially flexible conduit or hose provided between the fluid inlet means of said dispensing means and the connection means.
16. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connection means includes a valve.
17. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein support means are provided for allowing the dispensing means to be supported in a suitable position when not in use.
18. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes at least a toilet bowl.
19. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the fluid outlet means are defined in a housing part and different housing parts having different arrangements of fluid outlet means can be provided.
20. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the fluid outlet means are defined on a substantially planar or flat surface on said housing part.
21. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 19 wherein at least a portion of the housing part is substantially U or J-shaped and the fluid outlet means are defined in said U or J shaped portion.
22. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claims 11 or 12 wherein the fluid flow control means andor the pressure control means includes a valve arrangement movable between open and closed positions.
23. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 22 wherein in the fluid flow control valve arrangement, fluid flows from an external surface of a valve andor valve housing to an interior surface of the valve or valve housing through one or more fluid apertures when said valve arrangement is in an open position.
24. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the valve arrangement includes a closure element and a valve housing, the closure element being movably mounted with respect to said valve housing from an open position, wherein the closure element is a spaced distance apart from fluid inlet means and fluid can flow through said fluid inlet means, around at least part of an external surface of said closure element and through one or more fluid apertures defined in the valve housing to the interior of the valve housing; to a closed position, wherein the closure element engages with or adjacent said fluid inlet means to substantially prevent fluid flow through said fluid inlet means.
25. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 22 wherein in the pressure control valve arrangement, fluid flows from an interior surface of the valve andor valve housing to an external surface thereof through one or more fluid apertures when said apertures are in an open position.
26. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 25 wherein at least first and second fluid apertures are defined a spaced distance apart and longitudinally of said valve, said valve movable longitudinally with respect to sealing means to allow selective opening of said first andor said second fluid apertures.
27. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the valve is movable with respect to the sealing means between a first position, wherein the first fluid aperture is open and fluid can flow therethrough and the second fluid aperture is closed and fluid is prevented from flowing therethrough; to a second position, wherein the first aperture is closed and fluid is prevented from flowing therethrough and the second aperture is open and fluid can flow therethrough.
28. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the valve has a narrowing taper towards the outlet end of the dispensing apparatus, the one or more fluid apertures being provided towards said narrowing end of said valve.
29. A method of using toilet cleaning apparatus, said apparatus including dispensing means for dispensing fluid therefrom for cleaning said toilet and connection means for connecting said dispensing means to a fluid supply for providing a source of fluid to the dispensing means in use, said dispensing means including a housing having fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means, and wherein said housing includes two or more parts and said parts are rotatably mounted to each other in use, said method including the steps of directing the fluid outlet means of the dispensing means towards the interior of a toilet bowl and actuating the dispensing means to allow fluid to flow at a suitable located in said toilet bowl.