Abstract: Metal bonded carbon fiber-reinforced composites are disclosed in which the metal and the composite are strongly bound by (1) providing a matrix-depleted zone in the composite of sufficient depth to provide a binding site for the metal to be bonded and then (2) infiltrating the metal into the matrix-free zone to fill a substantial portion of the zone and also provide a surface layer of metal, thereby forming a strong bond between the composite and the metal. The invention also includes the metal-bound composite itself, as well as the provision of a coating over the metal for high-temperature performance or for joining to other such composites or to other substrates.

Abstract: High purity synthetic pyrite is produced in a two-step and also in a one-step sulfidation reaction of iron powder. In a two-step process, a hydrogen-annealed iron powder is first reacted with molten sulfur at a temperature of from about 200.degree.-455.degree. C., while subjecting the reaction mass to mixing for a period sufficient to convert the iron powder to pyrrhotite, which is then reacted in a second step with sulfur vapor at a temperature of from about 420.degree.-550.degree. C., while subjecting the reaction mass to mixing for a period sufficient to convert the pyrrhotite to substantially pure pyrite. In a one-step process, iron powder is gradually heated from room temperature to about 550.degree. C. in the presence of sulfur while continuously mixing to prevent sintering and agglomeration.

Abstract: Supported liquid membrane separators improve the flexibility, efficiency and service life of electrochemical cells for a variety of applications. In the field of electrochemical storage, an alkaline secondary battery with improved service life is described in which a supported liquid membrane is interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The supported liquid membranes of this invention can be used in energy production and storage systems, electrosynthesis systems, and in systems for the electrowinning and electrorefining of metals.

Abstract: Molybdenum is recovered from dilute, ammoniacal, molybdenum containing solutions by adding ferrous ions to the solution to precipitate an iron hydroxide-ammonium molybdate complex. The precipitate is separated from the aqueous raffinate and is treated with acid to resolubilize the molybdenum in the complex. Molybdenum values are recovered from the resulting acid solution by ion exchange. The aqueous raffinate is purged of iron and is reused.

Abstract: Copper is recovered from dilute, ammoniacal, copper containing solutions by adding ferrous ions to the solution to precipitate metallic copper and iron oxides. The mixed precipitate is separated from the aqueous raffinate. The precipitated copper and iron oxides are separated from each other to enable the copper to be recovered.

Abstract: A novel class of extractants and a method of using the extractants in the hydrometallurgical recovery of nickel and cobalt metal. The extractants comprise a water immiscible organic solvent system containing solubilized mercaptide anions. In an important embodiment of the invention, the mercaptide ions are generated by adding a mercaptan to a mixed water immiscible solvent comprising a basic compound such as an amine, preferably a tertiary amine, and a polar component such as an alcohol, whereby the mercaptan undergoes acid dissociation.The extractants are used by being contacted with cobalt, nickel, or cobalt and nickel containing aqueous solutions. On mixing, the cobalt and/or nickel values are taken up by the organic as cobalt or nickel mercaptides. These may then be stripped of cobalt and nickel by treatment with an aqueous alkaline solution and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A novel class of extractants and a method of using the extractants in the hydrometallurgical recovery of nickel and cobalt metal. The extractants comprise a water immiscible organic solvent system containing solubilized mercaptide anions. In an important embodiment of the invention, the mercaptide anions are generated by solubilizing an alkali metal mercaptide in a polar organic solvent capable of solvating alkali metal ions. Alternatively, an organic solution of a mercaptan is exposed to an aqueous solution of NaOH or KOH to produce the mercaptide anion.The extractants are used by being contacted with cobalt, nickel, or cobalt and nickel pregnant aqueous solutions. On mixing, the cobalt and/or nickel values are taken up by the organic as cobalt or nickel mercaptides. These may then be stripped of cobalt and nickel by treatment with an aqueous alkaline solution and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A novel class of extractants and a method of using the extractants in the hydrometallurgical recovery of nickel and cobalt metal. The extractants comprise a water immiscible organic solvent system containing solubilized mercaptide anion. In an important embodiment of the invention, the mercaptide anions are generated by adding compounds containing both a thiol group and an amine group such as aminoethanethiols or amides of thioglycolic acids to water immiscible organic solvents, preferably of polar character. These systems generate the required mercaptide anions by undergoing an internal acid dissociation.The extractants are used by being contacted with cobalt, nickel, or cobalt and nickel pregnant aqueous solutions. On mixing, the cobalt and/or nickel values are taken up by the organic as cobalt and nickel mercaptides. These may then be stripped of cobalt and nickel by treatment with an aqueous alkaline solution and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A novel process for recovering nickel metal from aqueous ammoniacal nickel solutions such as leach liquors at or close to ambient temperatures and pressures. The process comprises contacting the nickel solution with carbonyl ferrate ions such as HFe(CO).sub.4.sup.- or Fe(CO).sub.4.sup.-- in the presence of carbon monoxide to produce nickel carbonyl. The nickel carbonyl is collected as a gas, concentrated, and decomposed to produce nickel metal and carbon monoxide. The carbonyl ferrate ions may conveniently be produced by subjecting an iron pentacarbonyl solution to an aqueous alkaline solution containing potassium hydroxide or the like. The nickel depleted ammoniacal liquor is purged of iron resulting from the nickel carbonylation treatment by oxidizing the ferrous values to iron oxide and may thereafter be recycled to solubilize additional nickel values.

Abstract: A novel process for extracting, concentrating, and isolating nickel and cobalt from aqueous solution thereof. A cobalt and/or nickel bearing solution is contacted with an extractant comprising a substantially water immiscible organic solvent containing solubilized mercaptide anion to form water insoluble cobalt and nickel mercaptides in the organic phase. The organic phase is then separated from the raffinate and contacted with an alkaline solution and carbon monoxide to produce nickel and cobalt carbonyl compounds. Typically, the nickel carbonyl produced is gaseous Ni(CO).sub.4 which may be easily isolated by known methods from other components in the off-gas stream. Pure nickel metal is then obtained from the nickel tetracarbonyl by known methods. The cobalt carbonyl compound produced is typically water soluble carbonyl cobaltate ion, Co(CO).sub.4.sup.-, which may be oxidized to form water insoluble cobalt carbonyl compounds.

Abstract: After the non-cobalt values are stripped from the co-loaded organic, the cobalt ions on the organic are reduced to the divalent state. The organic loaded with divalent cobalt ions is easily stripped with a dilute acid to render the organic recyclable.In another embodiment of the invention simultaneous reduction and "crowding" is utilized to strip cobalt from the organic. In this embodiment, a convenient source of both reductant Cu.sup.+ and of copper and/or nickel such as pregnant leach liquor is used to crowd the reduced cobalt from the organic.

Abstract: Copper is recovered from solutions containing cupric ammoniacal complexes by reducing copper in the complexes to the cuprous state and thereafter precipitating the copper as cuprous acetylide by passing acetylene through the solution. After the cuprous acetylide is separated from the solution and washed thoroughly, it is reacted with acetonitrile and an acid to form acetylene and a cuprous-acetonitrile complex: Cu(CH.sub.3 CN).sub.2.sup.+. The solution containing this complex is then flash distilled to remove the acetonitrile and to disproportionate unstable cuprous ions into copper metal and cupric ions. Following the disproportionation, the components are separated and copper metal is collected. SUBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the recovery of copper from ammoniacal solution which may also contain nickel, cobalt, and other ions. In practicing the invention, very pure copper metal is obtained without the need to employ ion exchangers, acid stripping, electrowinning, or electrorefining.

Abstract: Copper values are recovered from an acidic solution of solubilized cupric ions by the reduction of cupric copper to cuprous copper with hydrogen gas in the presence of a solid hydrogenation catalyst and in the presence of a cuprous ion stabilizing ligand. Catalyst poisoning by precipitation of copper metal on the surface of the catalyst during the reduction is avoided by controlling the ratio of Cu.sup.+/ligand/Cu.sup.+.sup.+ and by terminating the hydrogenation before copper metal precipitates on the catalyst. The solution containing the cuprous ions is separated from the solid catalyst and the cuprous ions are then disproportionated to produce copper metal and cupric ions.The removal of the last amounts of cupric ions from solutions, after several stages of reduction and disproportionation is achieved by allowing the cupric ions to precipitate on the catalyst as copper metal.

Abstract: Organic acids are added to ammoniacal leach liquors containing base metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt. Ammonia and carbon dioxide are then stripped from the leach liquor by heating the leach liquor sufficiently to drive off the ammonia and carbon dioxide. The resulting loss of ammonia and carbon dioxide causes the pH of the leach liquor to drop and enables the metal values to load onto the organic acid. Metal values are selectively stripped from the loaded organic acid.

Abstract: A process in which copper, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum are recovered by leaching comminuted raw manganese nodules with an aqueous ammoniacal leach solution containing cuprous ions. An improvement is disclosed in which the metal values are extracted directly from the leach slurry with an organic extractant. To accomplish such extraction the amount by weight of solids in the slurry is maintained at less than 20 percent, the pH of the slurry is lowered to 9.5, the volumes of slurry and organic are maintained at a ratio so that the organic is the continuous phase and the organic and slurry are mixed with gentle agitation.