Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing pure cobalt metal powder. The process involves contacting a cobaltous salt with a sufficient amount of an alkaline earth halide in an aqueous solution at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to form a solution which is essentially cobaltous halide and a solid which consists essentially of a salt of the alkaline earth and the anion of the cobaltous salt. The cobaltous halide solution is removed from the solid and the ions in the solution are complexed with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst to form a cobaltic hexammine ion. The resulting solution is treated with an acid in the presence of halide ions to form a cobaltic hexammine halide precipitate which is removed from the resulting mother liquor and dissolved in an aqueous solution to form a relatively pure solution which is treated with a sufficient amount of a metallic hydroxide to form a cobalt containing precipitate which is reduced to cobalt metal.

Abstract: Improved iron blue pigments and a process for the production thereof whereby the basic ferrous sulfate-ammonium or potassium sulfate-alkali metal ferrocyanide reaction is modified by the addition of zinc ions so as to alter the chemical composition and improve the performance characteristics of the resulting iron blue pigment.

Abstract: A process for the hydrometallurgical recovery of precious metal from an ore or concentrate containing at least some arsenopyrite or pyrite.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of Co (III) from ammoniacal solutions comprising Co (III) and Ni (II). The process comprises:(a) contacting said ammoniacal solution with(b) bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid or an ammonium or alkali metal salt thereof,said ammoniacal solution forming the aqueous phase and said phosphinic acid, or salt thereof, forming the organic phase, and(c) a phase modifierwhereby the Co (III) values are extracted from said aqueous phase to said organic phase.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing pure cobalt metal powder. The method involves reducing a cobalt containing source material to produce an intermediate cobalt metal, contacting this intermediate with an ammoniacal ammonium halide solution and a catalyst with oxidation to form a solution of hexamminecobalt(III) ions, removing insoluble material, and adding a sufficient amount of a halide salt to the solution to precipitate hexamminecobalt(III) halide which is separated from the mother liquor. The hexamminecobalt(III) halide precipitate is dissolved in water and the pH is adjusted to greater than about 10 with a base, while the solution is heated at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to form an insoluble cobalt oxide containing material which is separated from its mother liquor and reduced to pure cobalt metal powder.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing chromium from cobalt. The process involves first contacting an acidic cobalt chloride solution with an oxidizing agent, followed by adjusting the pH to from about 3.2 to about 5.5 with a base at a sufficient temperature to form a first solid containing essentially all of the chromium and a portion of the cobalt and a first liquor containing the balance of the cobalt, and then separating the first solid from the first liquor. The first solid is then heated at a sufficient temperature to remove essentially all of the water and form a second solid which is contacted with sufficient water and ammonium hydroxide to form a slurry which is at a pH of greater than about 3.8.

Abstract: A process for enhancing recovery of metals, especially cobalt, from spent hydroprocessing catalysts when the spent catalyst particles are first roasted at between 400.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. and then contacted with a first aqueous solution of ammonia and an ammonium salt to recover nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium. The once-leached spent hydroprocessing catalysts are again leached by contacting them with a second aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate at a pH of 1 to 4.

Abstract: A process for removing or decreasing the amount of color in a solution such as an oil well brine by adding hydroxylamine or hydrazine. The hydroxylamine or hydrazine may be added in any form such as the pure compound, a salt, the hydrate or the like.

Abstract: The nickel content of a waste water stream, such as a stream of grey water that is separated in the decanting operation of a partial oxidation process or blow-down water from a gas quench cooling and/or scrubbing operation is reduced to below 1 mg/l to produce an environmentally upgraded water stream. In the process, the dilute waste water stream containing nickel impurities at a temperature in the range of about 60.degree. to 220.degree. F. is mixed with a water soluble material selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, ionizable polysulfide salt, and hydrogen peroxide; and with dimethyl glyoxime. The pH is adjusted to a value in the range of over 7 to 11 by the addition of a base material and a water insoluble nickel precipitate forms. The precipitate and other insoluble matter are separated from the water by means of at least one conventional solids-liquid separator, and a stream of upgraded water is produced.

Abstract: A process for recovering the metal values from spent hydroprocessing catalyst particles. The metal values will include at least one metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and at least one metal of Group Vb or Group VIb of the Periodic Table. The spent catalyst particles are first roasted at between 400.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. and then contacted with a first aqueous solution of ammonia and an ammonium salt forming a first pregnant liquor. The once-leached spent hydroprocessing catalysts are contacted with a second aqueous solution of sulfur dioxide forming a second pregnant liquor. The metal values are precipitated from the second pregnant liquor with hydrogen sulfide and the precipitate is roasted with unroasted spent hydroprocessing catalysts. The metal values of Group Vb and Group VIb in the first pregnant liquor are transferred into a first organic solution by liquid ion exchange.

Abstract: A process for enhancing recovery of cobalt from spent hydroprocessing catalysts when the spent catalyst particles are first roasted at between 400.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. and then contacted with a first aqueous solution of ammonia and an ammonium salt to recover nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and vanadium. The once-leached spent hydroprocessing catalysts are contacted with a second aqueous solution of sulfur dioxide. The metal values are precipitated with hydrogen sulfide and the precipitate is roasted with unroasted spent hydroprocessing catalysts.

Abstract: The Abstract of the Invention is a method of making a solution of the nitrates of iron and chromium from a spent catalyst containing oxides of iron and chromium, which method comprises:(a) dissolving the catalyst in sulphuric acid;(b) reacting the resulting sulphates solution with a source of nitrate ions and of cations of which the sulphate is of low solubility, whereby to precipitate such sulphate;(c) separating the sulphate, whereby to give a nitrates solution of low sulphate content.

Abstract: Process for the recuperation of an insoluble salt of a metal from the rinsing solution of an electrodeposition of the metal.

Abstract: Metal catalyst complexes such as those containing a metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table which have been used in organic reactions such as the hydroformylation of olefins to form alcohols may be recovered from the product alcohols by treating said alcohol with anhydrous gaseous ammonia at temperatures in the range of from about 0.degree. to about 100.degree. C. and pressures in the range of from about 5 to about 1000 psi to precipitate the solution catalyst complex and thereby enable the separation of the catalyst complex from the product to be accomplished in a relatively simple manner.

Abstract: This present invention provides a process of recovering uranium from a uranium-containing acid lixiviation solution comprising extracting the lixiviation solution with an organic extractant comprising an organic diluent, a dialkyl pyrophosphoric acid, and a stabilization agent, and treating the mixture of solutions as follows:(a) bubbling anhydrous ammonia gas into the solution mixture to precipitate the ammonium salt of excess dialkyl pyrophosphoric acid; and(b) separating the precipitate from the solution and recovering the uranium from the solution.

Abstract: Cobalt is recovered from byproduct streams from a basic process by contacting the byproduct streams with aluminum metal for a sufficient period of time to produce cobalt metal as a precipitate. The basic process is the type wherein cobalt ions in solution are complexed with ammonia in the presence of halide ions to form an ammine halide solution from which a cobalt containing precipitate is separated. The precipitate is subsequently reduced to form a cobalt metal powder.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for treating a nickel matte to recover essentially pure nickel comprising: treating an aqueous mixture of the matte with chlorine to produce a solid residue and an aqueous lixiviating solution having a pH value which is substantially nil or positive; treating the lixiviating solution to produce a solution containing primarily nickel chloride; and electrolyzing the solution to recover pure nickel at the cathode.

Abstract: Cobalt is recovered from by-product streams from a basic process by heating the by-product streams containing ammonia for a sufficient period of time at a pH of about 8 to about 10 to produce an ammonia enriched vapor and an aqueous mixture comprising a solution substantially free of ammonia and another cobalt containing precipitate. The basic process is the type wherein cobalt ions in solution are complexed with ammonia in the presence of halide ions to form an ammine halide solution which is digested to form a cobalt containing precipitate. The precipitate is subsequently reduced to form a cobalt metal powder.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for the treatment of a raw material which contains iron and other metals, with a sulfuric acid solution, in order to dissolve the metals and to precipitate and separate the iron, the separated metal sulfate solution being exposed to evaporation in order to crystallize and separate the metal sulfates from the mother liquor, which is recycled to the treatment stage performed with sulfuric acid solution, and the separated metal sulfate being recovered.

Abstract: Cobalt is recovered by treating aqueous solutions containing ammonia and cobalt ions with a sufficient amount of an acid in the presence of a catalyst to convert the cobalt ions to a cobalt hexammine ion which is precipitated and separated from the resulting solution. According to another aspect of the invention, a cobalt compound is precipitated from an aqueous solution of cobaltic hexammine halide by treating the solution with a metallic hydroxide and the precipitate is subsequently reduced to form fine cobalt powder.

Abstract: A method for producing extra fine cobalt metal powder (up to 1.7 FSSS) by the digestion of cobalt pentammine chloride in a dilute ammonium hydroxide solution to form a cobalt-containing precipitate, followed by reducing the precipitate in a hydrogen atmosphere to cobalt metal powder, is improved by: (a) adding NaOH to the mother liquor containing cobalt species in solution, to form a cobalt-containing precipitate; and (b) either heating the precipitate in hydrogen to reduce it to cobalt metal powder or recycling the precipitate as a cobalt source for the formation of cobalt pentammine chloride. The final cobalt metal powder is useful, for example, as a starting material in the manufacture of cemented carbides.

Abstract: A method for producing extra fine cobalt metal powder (up to 1.7 FSSS) by the digestion of cobalt pentammine chloride in a dilute ammonium hydroxide solution to form a cobalt-containing precipitate, followed by reducing the precipitate in a hydrogen atmosphere to cobalt metal powder, is improved by: (a) treating the mother liquor with an ion exchange resin to remove cobalt species; (b) stripping the resin with an HCl solution; (c) recovering solid cobalt hexammine chloride from the stripping solution; (d) forming a solution of the solid in water; (e) adding NaOH to the solution to form a cobalt-containing precipitate; and (f) either heating the precipitate in hydrogen to reduce it to cobalt metal powder or recycling the precipitate as a cobalt source for the formation of cobalt pentammine chloride. The final cobalt metal powder is useful, for example, as a starting material in the manufacture of cemented carbides.

Abstract: Fine particle size cobalt metal powder is prepared by treating an aqueous solution of a soluble cobaltic ammine halide with a sufficient amount of a soluble metallic hydroxide to form a cobalt containing precipitate. The precipitate is separated from the solution and reduced in a reducing atmosphere to produce metallic cobalt.

Abstract: Cobalt is recovered as a finely-divided and anhydrous salt from impure, nickel-bearing, aqueous solutions of cobalt, by exposing the aqueous solution to oxidation at an elevated temperature in the presence of ammonia and the respective ammonium salt, the formation of cobalt (III) hexammine ions is catalysed with activated carbon or solid sulfides, a cobalt (III) hexammine salt is crystallized from the solution, the salt is separated from the solution and pyrolysed to form a cobalt (II) salt, and the released ammonia is returned to the oxidation stage.

Abstract: In the purification of an ammonium fluoride solution containing silicic acid by adding iron (III) ions and precipitating the iron (III) ions at a pH above 8.5 and a concentration of free ammonia in the solution of more than about 1% by weight, the silicic acid being carried with the iron (III) ion precipitate, the improvement which comprises adding the iron (III) ions to the ammonium fluoride solution at a temperature below about 30.degree. C. and, before removal of the precipitate, to the solution a salt of at least one of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, zinc, aluminum and lead in such quantity that the solution becomes saturated with such salt.

Abstract: Extra fine cobalt metal powder (up to about 0.8 microns) having less than 100 parts per million cation impurities is produced by a process in which cobalt pentammine chloride is digested in a dilute ammonium hydroxide solution to form a black precipitate, which is separated and heated in a hydrogen atmosphere to reduce the precipitate directly to cobalt metal powder. The cobalt pentammine chloride may be obtained by digesting a cobalt source in hydrochloric acid, adding ammonium hydroxide, oxidizing the cobaltous ion to cobaltic ion, and reducing the pH with hydrochloric acid to less than 1.0 in order to precipitate cobalt pentammine chloride. The final cobalt metal powder is useful, for example, as a starting material in the manufacture of cemented carbides.

Abstract: A process for recovering gold from a gold bearing liquor arising from a cyanidation process including the steps of treating the liquor with ozonized air or ozonized oxygen, adsorbing the gold values from the treated liquor on activated carbon, and recovering the gold values from the loaded activated carbon.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 from dilute sulfuric acid solutions containing combined acid sulfates by heating these solutions in the presence of excess ammonium sulfate to a temperature from between about 100.degree. and 160.degree. C. until a concentration of free H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 between 50 and 59% by weight is obtained to precipitate the combined acid sulfates.

Abstract: From roasted products of used catalysts from hydrotreatment desulfurization of petroleum, valuable molybdenum, vanadium, cobalt and nickel are recovered easily and a high percent recovery by means of a combination of simple chemical procedures and also inexpensive chemicals. The recovered metal components can be reused for preparing new catalysts and the like.

Abstract: This invention provides a two-stage leaching procedure for manganese nodules for obtaining directly in one leaching stage the metal values other than manganese in one ammoniacal aqueous solution. The manganese nodules are reduced and then leached initially utilizing a solution of an ammonium salt, e.g., ammonium sulfate, to selectively leach out the manganese value, followed by a second stage leaching with an ammoniacal solution, to leach out the nickel, cobalt and copper values. The nickel, cobalt and copper values can then be individually separated from the second leach solution by liquid ion exchange extraction.

Abstract: An improved process is described for recovering TiO.sub.2, useful as a white pigment, from ilmenite-type ores, including the steps of digesting the ore with aqueous hydrofluroic acid, separating out iron impurities from the resulting solution, precipitating hydrated titanium dioxide from the iron-free solution with ammonium hydroxide, and calcining the precipitate to obtain pigmentary TiO.sub.2, wherein the improvement comprises subjecting aqueous solutions of by-product ammonium fluoride, formed in the process, to electrodialytic water-splitting to form an aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide and an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride and recycling said aqueous ammonium hydroxide to the precipitation step and said aqueous hydrogen fluoride to the digestion step.

Abstract: This invention provides a leaching procedure for manganese nodules for obtaining directly from a leaching stage all of the metal values, including manganese, utilizing an ammoniacal aqueous solution. The manganese nodules are reduced and then leached utilizing an ammoniated solution of an ammonium salt comprising at least about 150 grams per liter of ammonium ion and at least 0.83 Normal in the anion, other than hydroxyl. The resultant leach solution comprises the dissolved manganese, nickel, cobalt and copper values from the nodule ore, and can subsequently be treated, as by liquid ion exchange, to separate out the individual metal values.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of catalyst components from a catalyst residue, e.g., a residue obtained from the hydrocyanation of olefins, e.g., butadiene, using a zero-valent nickel complex promoted with a triarylborane as a catalyst by contacting the residue with an essentially aqueous solution of nitrogen-containing base, e.g., ammonium hydroxide to form and precipitate the amine adduct of the triarylborane, while maintaining other catalyst components in solution and thereafter separating the precipitate from the resultant solution. Nickel can be separated from the resultant solution by reducing the concentration of amine in the solution to thereby precipitate a nickel cyanide complex, e.g., nickel (II) cyanidemonoammine.

Abstract: Metal powders, metal oxide powders, and mixtures thereof of controlled particle size are provided by reacting an aqueous solution containing dissolved metal values with excess urea. Upon heating, urea reacts with water from the solution leaving a molten urea solution containing the metal values. The molten urea solution is heated to above about 180.degree. C. whereupon metal values precipitate homogeneously as a powder. The powder is reduced to metal or calcined to form oxide particles. One or more metal oxides in a mixture can be selectively reduced to produce metal particles or a mixture of metal and metal oxide particles.

Abstract: The ore is subjected to nitric acid leaching and the leach solution is heated to a temperature at which one of the additional sulfur and iron values is selectively insolubilized with respect to the solution, while the other is maintained in solution for subsequent separation from the liquor after the insolubles have been removed and the liquor has been neutralized. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention the heating and acid neutralization steps are controlled within certain prescribed limits to make it possible to remove the metals from the liquor by solvent extraction without the problem of lasting precipitates forming in the liquor and fouling the extraction process. Where there is a sizable amount of dissolved iron in the liquor, the liquor may be subjected to autoclaving at a temperature above about 149.degree. C (300.degree. F) to precipitate the iron as the oxide thereof. This effect is possible even where the liquor is high in sulfate concentration.

Abstract: A process for producing and operating an electroplating bath in which there appears NH.sub.4.sup.+ ions which impair the quality of the bath comprising adding salts of a hexanitrocobaltate-III complex to the bath to bring about precipitation of the NH.sub.4.sup.+ ions.

Abstract: A continuous process is provided which has the primary purpose of removing NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 S, HCN, and (CN).sub.2 from the subject gas mixtures and the secondary purpose of producing (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SO.sub.4 and iron oxide for industrial uses. The gas mixture which contains tar and other condensible vapors, NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 S, HCN, and (CN).sub.2 together with small volumes of gas from the ammonia still of the system, and gas from a system H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 plant, is contacted in a single three-stage reaction chamber in the presence, if need be, of a tar solvent, additional NH.sub.3, and the reagent Fe(OH).sub.2, which itself is a product of a concurrent reaction between NH.sub.3 and FeSO.sub.4. The unpurified gas mixture's condensible vapors are largely prevented from condensing by maintaining a steady, elevated temperature, while the mixture is essentially freed of HCN, (CN).sub.2, NH.sub.3, and H.sub.2 S in the reactor before the gas mixture passes through a primary gas cooler.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering metal compounds and metals from ores, concentrates, alloys and other metal containing materials. The material containing said metals is leached in an aqueous solution of nitric acid at atmospheric pressure and temperatures which may vary from ambient to the atmospheric boiling point. An inorganic salt is admixed or formed in the solution to raise the atmospheric boiling point of said solution. The solution is heated to evaporate the water and to increase the concentration of the salt. The atmospheric boiling point of the solution increases with an increase in the salt concentration and causes an evolution of nitric acid or nitrogen containing gas and the sequential precipitation of metal compounds as the boiling point of the solution increases. The solution is filtered after each sequential precipitation to recover the metal compound or mixture of metal compounds which have precipitated as aforesaid.

Abstract: An ammoniacal solution containing nickel and cobalt dissolved as nickel-ammonia complexes and cobalt-ammonia complexes is treated with a material capable of providing free ammonia in the solution, such as gaseous ammonia or aqueous ammonia, in order to increase the proportion of higher nickel-ammonia complexes to lower nickel-ammonia complexes in solution until at least about 85% of the dissolved nickel is in the form of higher nickel-ammonia complexes, i.e., complexes in which the number of NH.sub.3 molecules is greater than 3. The attainment of this high concentration of higher nickel-ammonia complexes is readily determined by various analytical procedures such as, for example, free ammonia electrode measurements and spectrophotometer measurements. The solution is then treated with a sulfiding agent in an amount sufficient to selectively precipitate out the dissolved cobalt as cobalt sulfide. The resulting slurry is separated into a nickel-enriched liquid fraction and a cobalt-enriched solids fraction.

Abstract: The invention is a process for winning nickel by treating an aqueous ammonium salt solution of nickel salts with a carbon monoxide-containing gas under reducing conditions to produce nickel carbonyl and subsequently recovering nickel therefrom. Optionally, the production of nickel carbonyl can be catalyzed, for example, by cyanide. Also, an essentially water-immiscible solvent for nickel carbonyl can optionally be employed. The aqueous ammoniacal solution is typically an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium chloride, carbonate, sulfate, hydroxide, or mixture thereof. The valuable metals associated with nickel, e.g., copper, cobalt, iron, and precious metals, are also separated and recovered by this process. The general nature of the process allows a wide variety of primary and secondary sources of nickel to be utilized by combining this process with a number of known ore-treatment steps.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for treating iron containing metal sulfides for rendering iron and non-ferrous metal values active and amenable for selective extraction and separate recovery. Sulfur values can be controllably produced as elemental sulfur or as sulfuric acid to supply acid requirements of the process, while substantially obviating the discharge of sulfur-containing gases to the atmosphere. Ores and concentrates of the sulfides are thermally activated by sequentially heating and reducing said sulfides in a countercurrent flow of heating and reducing gases respectively in a reactor whereby the reaction products of the reducing gas and sulfides, together with liberated labile sulfur, are controllably combusted with oxygen to satisfy heat requirements of the thermal activation process and to convert sulfur values to SO.sub.2 gas. The activated sulfides are subjected to an acid leach in aqueous sulfuric acid for production of ferrous sulfate and evolution of H.sub.

Abstract: The ore is subjected to nitric acid leaching and the leach solution is heated to a temperature at which one of the additional sulfur and iron values is selectively insolubilized with respect to the solution, while the other is maintained in solution for subsequent separation from the liquor after the insolubles have been removed and the liquor has been neutralized. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention the heating and acid neutralization steps are controlled within certain prescribed limits to make it possible to remove the metals from the liquor by solvent extraction without the problem of lasting precipitates forming in the liquor and fouling the extraction process. Where there is a sizable amount of dissolved iron in the liquor, the liquor may be subjected to autoclaving at a temperature above about 149.degree.C (300.degree.F) to precipitate the iron as the oxide thereof. This effect is possible even where the liquor is high in sulfate concentration.