REACTOR FOR EXTRACTING METALS FROM METAL SULFIDE CONTAINING MATERIALS AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

Described herein are an apparatus and method for extracting one or more metals from metal sulfide-containing materials. The reactor includes: a containment vessel, the containment vessel having a base member and a wall member; a gas injection member configured to introduce a gas into the containment vessel; a liquid injection member configured to introduce a liquid into the containment vessel; and a cellular-confinement medium in contact with the base member, the cellular-confinement medium including aggregate materials and configured to affect liquid-solid separation in the containment vessel. The reactor may be operated as a free drained reactor, a partially saturated reactor, or a flooded reactor.