Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a sol of a metallic or a non-metallic element, such as selenium, tellurium, gold and silver, wherein said process comprises the reduction of a chemical compound, which contains said element in a reducible state, with a borane compound, such as an alkali metal borohydride or an amine borane, as the reducing agent.

Abstract: A method of increasing the extraction of tellurium from copper electrorefining slime comprises leaching the slime with dilute sulphuric acid in a reactor under a partial oxygen pressure of up to 150 psi and at an elevated temperature between about 100.degree. and 200.degree. C. until copper, nickel and substantially all of the tellurium is dissolved, thereby forming a leach slurry, and contacting the slurry with an appropriate reducing agent immediately after the leaching operation has been halted and the leaching reactor brough back to atmospheric pressure to reprecipitate any excessive quantities of silver and selenium solubilized during the leaching operation.

Abstract: Methods for producing selenium-72, separating it from its daughter isotope arsenic-72, and generating multiple portions of a solution containing arsenic-72 from a reusable parent substance comprised of selenium-72.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering tellurium from copper electrolysis slime. The process comprises leaching copper and tellurium from said slime with sulfuric acid and recovering tellurium from the solution after leaching (called "leach") by suspending at least one copper electrode plate in a bath of a leach, allowing tellurium to deposit on the surface thereof as copper telluride, agitating the bath as required so as to remove the copper telluride formed on the surface of the copper plates and allow it to settle, collecting the copper telluride precipitate and obtaining tellurium by means known per se. A high grade copper tellurium precipitate is obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing selenium from wastewater effluent. The processd includes the steps of;(i) contacting a selenide containing wastewater and a strong-base anion exchange resin to absorb selenide on the resin;(ii) eluting the ion exchange resin with an eluant which is effective for stripping selenide therefrom; and(iii) recovering elemental selenium from the selenide containing eluate resulting from step (ii). Also disclosed is a process for regenerating the ion exchange resin by treatment of the resin with an acidic chlorate solution.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of purifying cadmium and tellurium and forming pure, stoichiometric cadmium telluride therefrom as well as the apparatus for making such cadmium telluride. The cadmium and tellurium are purified by heating each separately to volatilization and passing water in a reducing gas through the volatilized cadmium and tellurium to react with impurities and form gases or precipitates. The cadmium and tellurium are volatilized at different predetermined temperatures such that the amount of each volatilized will be the same so that reaction later takes place with stoichiometric amounts of the elements to form the cadmium telluride. The cadmium telluride is then condensed at low enough temperature so that the remaining gases pass out of the system.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of chalcogenide alloy compositions which comprises providing a chalcogenide alloy; admixing therewith crystalline or amorphous selenium; and subsequently subjecting the resulting mixture to evaporation.

Abstract: A layered photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate; an amorphous photoconductive layer and a hole transport layer dispersed in a resinous binder, which layer is formulated from a solution mixture; and wherein the photoconductive layer is prepared by a process which comprises dissolving an inorganic photoconductive component in a solvent, removing the suspended particles therefrom, depositing the resulting solution on the supporting substrate, and subsequently heating the aforementioned member.

Abstract: A method for purifying starting materials for chalcogenide glass is disclosed, which comprises contacting chalcogen starting materials at a high temperature with a metal which is more susceptible to oxidation than the chalcogen starting materials to allow the metal to react with oxygen contained as impurity in the chalcogen starting material to form an oxide of the metal, and then removing the metal and the oxide of the metal from the chalcogen starting materials.

Abstract: A process for preparing an electrophotographic imaging member comprising providing large particles of an alloy comprising selenium, tellurium and arsenic, the large particles having an average particle size of at least about 300 micrometers and an average weight of less than about 1000 mg, mechanically abrading the surfaces of the large particles while maintaining the substantial surface integrety of the large particles to form between about 3 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight dust particles based on the total weight of the alloy prior to mechanical abrasion.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for enrichment of gold, platinum and palladium from copper electrolysis anode sludge, and simultaneously recovery of selenium, in which the sludge is treated with Cl.sub.2 /HCl to transform the selenium of a hexavelent state and precipitate out silver chloride. The filtrate is then subjected to selective reduction of precipitate the noble metals and the resulting filtrate is chlorinated and a further reduction is effected to precipitate the metallic selenium.

Abstract: Hazardous waste containing inorganic compounds which contain heavy metals or particular hazardous anionic groups or which are hazardous halides or non-metal oxides or sulfides is contacted with molten aluminum to provide reduction to lower less hazardous oxidation state.

Abstract: Cd and Te are purified by multiple-pass zone refining in the presence of a small amount of an added gettering substance chosen from Cd, Te and CdTe. In the purification of Cd, Te, or CdTe is added, the amount of Te or of Te in CdTe being less than the amount of Te in the Cd-rich eutectic composition between Cd and Te. In the purification of Te, Cd or CdTe is added, the amount of Cd or of Cd in CdTe being less than the amount of Cd in the Te-rich eutectic composition between Cd and Te. The Cd and Te so purified have an improved purity as witnessed by SSMS analyses, the increased ductility of the Cd and a much higher yield of the number of slices of CdHgTe produced with the refined Cd and Te meeting the specifications for carrier concentration and mobility.

Abstract: A process for recovering or purifying selenium is disclosed. A selenium-containing material is reacted with carbon monoxide and ammonia or a primary or secondary amine to form a compound soluble in an aprotic solvent. The reaction product is subjected to the reverse reaction by heating it to liberate selenium, which is separated by filtration. The reaction is specific to selenium, and selenium can be separated from sulfur, tellurium, arsenic, halogen, etc. The used reagents can be recovered and used repeatedly.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of halogenated chalcogens, or halogenated chalcogenide alloys which comprises providing in solution pure esters of the desired chalcogen, and subsequently subjecting a mixture of the esters and a chalcogenide halide to a coreduction reaction.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process is provided for separating heavy metal nuisance elements such as As, Sb, Bi, Sn and Pb from precious metals and/or selenium. The process can be used as a step in an overall hydrometallurgical process for treating refinery residues such as anode slimes for the separation and recovery of valuable metal values.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of high purity chalcogenide alloys which comprises providing an acid mixture of the chalcogens; forming a solution thereof; and thereafter reacting the solution with a reducing agent.

Abstract: Chalcogens and chalcogenide alloys of controlled crystal size are prepared by subjecting the esters to a reduction reaction. The esters may be prepared by treating the corresponding oxides of the desired elements with an alcohol or glycol and then in one embodiment, converted into the desired chalcogen alloys by subjecting a solution mixture of the resulting esters to a co-reduction reaction at high temperatures. The resulting chalcogens and chalcogenide alloys are useful for the preparation of xerographic photoconductive compositions.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed to an improved process for the preparation of selenium of high purity which comprises reacting selenious acid, selenium oxides, or mixtures thereof, with an alcohol, and subjecting the resulting selenium ester, subsequent to purification to a reduction reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the reclamation of selenium in high purity from scrap alloys which comprises converting the alloy to a mixture of oxides, separating the selenium oxide formed by alcoholic dissolution, followed by treating this solution with a reducing agent, and thereafter separating the selenium product therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for improving the electron transporting properties of selenium, or selenium alloys, by (1) providing a source of selenium, or selenium alloy, (2) treating the selenium, or selenium alloy with hydrazine contained in an organic solvent in an amount of from about 0.1 percent by volume to about 15 percent by volume, (3) heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of from about 50 degrees centigrade to about 120 degrees centigrade, wherein there results selenium or a selenium alloy have homogeneously and permanently absorbed thereon hydrazine.

Abstract: Selenium is precipitated from solutions containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, chromium and cadmium by adding chromous sulfate to the solution to precipitate selenium therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of chalcogenide alloys in high purity which comprises providing a solution mixture of oxides of the desired chalcogens, and subsequently subjecting this mixture to a simultaneous coreduction reaction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for separating selenium from seleniferous raw material by roasting this material with oxygen at elevated temperature in enclosed space.With a view to improving the separation of selenium, the roasting is carried out in the presence of oxides of sulphur.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed to a process for the preparation of chalcogenide alloys of the elements of Groups VA to VIA of the Periodic Table, in high purity, (99.999 percent) which comprises providing pure esters of the alloys desired, and subsequently simultaneously subjecting the esters to a coreduction reaction. The esters can be obtained by treating the corresponding oxides with an alcohol of diol. Examples of alloys produced in accordance with the process of the present invention include selenium arsenic, selenium sulfur selenium tellurium, selenium tellurium arsenic, selenium sulfur tellurium, and the like.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed to an improved process for reclaiming metallic elements in high purity from a source material containing these elements, which comprises providing a source material, converting the source material to mixture of oxides, reacting the oxides with an alcohol resulting in the formation of esters, and metallic oxides, subjecting the esters, subsequent to purification, to a reduction reaction, subsequently converting the metallic oxides to esters by reaction with a diol, and subjecting, subsequent to purification, the resulting esters to a reduction reaction.

Abstract: A process for reducing the concentration of selenium ions in the Se(VI) oxidation state in an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is admixed with a quantity of metallic iron. The iron reduces the selenium ions from the Se(VI) oxidation state to a lower oxidation state and then dissolves in the aqueous solution. If the pH level of the aqueous solution is above about 2.3, the selenium ions are reduced to at least the Se(IV) oxidation state and the dissolved metallic iron hydrolyses to form an iron hydroxide that precipitates. The precipitated material is separated from the aqueous solution to provide a solution having a lower concentration of selenium ions. If the pH level of the aqueous solution is below about 2.3, no iron hydrolysis is observed to occur. At least a portion of the selenium in the Se(VI) oxidation state is believed to be reduced to the elemental state. The elemental selenium then is separated from the aqueous solution to provide a solution having a lower concentration of selenium ions.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed to an improved process for the preparation of tellurium in high purity which comprises reacting tellurium dioxides, with a diol, and subjecting the resulting tellurium ester, subsequent to purification, to a reduction reaction.

Abstract: Process for preparation of monodispersed crystalline particles from amorphous crystallizable polymers. In this process, an amorphous polymer of an inorganic glass, such as selenium, or of organic polymer, such as a polyester, is initially contacted with a crystal inducing fluid under certain specified conditions. Concurrent with such contact the crystallizable polymer is subjected to physical and/or ultrasonic forces. This combination of steps results in the substantially complete conversion of the amorphous polymer to monodispersed crystalline particles. In the case of crystallization of amorphous selenium, this process is directive for preparation of the corresponding triclinic crystalline form of this material.

Abstract: A tellurium component is separated from a tellurium-antimony-containing metal oxide catalyst by heating the catalyst at a temperature of about 900.degree. C. to about 1,000.degree. C. in a non-reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for separating selenium and tellurium values from each other by heating a solution containing both to a temperature and for a time period, in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid under substantially anhydrous conditions, sufficient to precipitate the tellurium values. The process is primarily applied to decopperized copper anode slimes by first leaching such slimes with concentrated sulfuric acid under the specified conditions, separating the liquid and solids phases, and then removing the tellurium from the solids phase by a water leach.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for recovering precious metals, such as gold, silver, selenium, and tellurium etc. from anode slime has been developed and tested successfully. The process comprises three major unit operations: leaching, liquid-liquid extraction, and reduction. The decopperized anode slime is first leached with nitric acid at an elevated temperature to obtain a leach solution containing at least about 95% by weight of the silver content, 96% by weight of the selenium content and 76% by weight of the tellurium content of the decopperized anode slime. Silver in the nitric acid leach solution is recovered in the form of silver chloride. Subsequent to the recovery of silver chloride, the selenium, tellurium, copper and other impurities-containing solution is denitrated and chlorinated by a liquid-liquid extraction technique.

Abstract: A method of recovering metallic tellurium from a residue dust containing a major amount of lead oxide, a minor amount of tellurium oxide, and a minor amount of iron oxide which comprises the steps of introducing the residue into a leach tank containing water, sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate, the sulphuric acid being present in the leach tank in an amount equal to about 5% to 10% by weight in excess of that stoichiometrically required to react with the lead and tellurium, the ferric sulphate being added as an oxidizing agent, reacting the residue with the sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate to produce lead sulphate and a tellurium solution, removing the lead sulphate and tellurium solution from the leach tank and separating the lead sulphate from the tellurium solution, adding the separated tellurium solution to a tumbler containing particles of metallic iron, agitating the tumbler so that the tellurium solution reacts with the iron to produce ferrous sulphate and metallic tellurium, withdrawing the mixture

Abstract: Anode slimes from an electrorefining operation are fed, together with sulfuric acid, into a heated pelletizer wherein a sulfation reaction occurs, simultaneously with pellet formation, to solubilize copper, nickel and tellurium contained in the slimes.

Abstract: A process for separating selenium, selenium compounds, sulfur and/or sulfur compounds from urethanes containing these elements and/or compounds by reacting said urethanes with an aqueous permanganate solution and then separating the resulting phase system.

Abstract: A method for the removal of soluble tellurium compounds from vicinal glycol ester solutions, prepared with tellurium-halide ion catalyst systems, by diluting the tellurium-containing vicinal glycol ester solution with water and contacting said glycol-water solution with a strongly acidic sulfonated ion exchange resin leaving an essentially tellurium-free vicinal glycol ester reaction product which may then be processed to recover the desired ester product and by-products without loss of valuable tellurium. The tellurium may be recovered from the ion exchange resin and treated to recover tellurium in a form suitable for reuse.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of tellurium compounds which have been retained on a strongly acidic sulfonated ion exchange resin employed to remove soluble tellurium compounds from tellurium-containing vicinal glycol ester solutions, by elution of the resin with dilute mineral acids, such as hydrochloric, to form a tellurium-containing acid eluate and treating the eluate by stripping or distilling to remove contained water and acid leaving a tellurium compound concentrate which may be treated in the presence of air or oxygen to convert the tellurium to a form suitable for reuse in the preparation of vicinal glycol esters.

Abstract: Selenium is precipitated from solutions or slurries containing nonferrous metals, particularly nickel by contacting the solution or slurries with a semimetallic chromous precipitant of the nonferrous metal, particularly nickel, which has a nonferrous metal to chromium ratio between about 10:1 and about 200:1 and which has a metallic content between about 50% and about 90%. The semimetallic chromous precipitant of the nonferrous metal is prepared by hydrogen reducing a solution of the nonferrous metal or slurries containing chromous salts in amount to provide the aforementioned nickel to chromium ratios.

Abstract: Selenium pellets are produced by compacting, under a pressure, a powdery material selected from a group consisting of powdery metallic selenium, and a mixture of powdery metallic selenium and one or more of additives, and by sintering the resulting compact at a temperature not less than 100.degree. C. but lower than the melting point of selenium.The selenium pellets are used as selenium source material in vacuum-deposition to produce a photoconductive layer having improved photoelectric properties over those obtained by using conventional particulate amorphous selenium as source material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming finely divided photosensitive trigonal selenium particles which are submicron in size and generally spherical in shape. The method comprises forming an alkaline solution containing selenide and/or polyselenide ions, followed by the precipitation of finely divided trigonal selenium particles from said solution by the addition of an oxidizing agent to said alkaline solution. The trigonal selenium particles are formed into a binder layer photosensitive device by dispersing them with an organic resin in solution with an organic solvent which when applied to a substrate in a uniform layer, is heated to remove the solvent and form the device. Continued heat treatment of the device can result in enhancement of its ability to accept an electrostatic charge.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for treating copper refinery anode slimes containing selenium, lead and precious metals in which a selenium product of better than 99.7% purity can be produced and the final residue is suitable for smelting to produce anodes for silver refining.

Abstract: A method for the removal and recovery of selenium from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds, which may be in the form of inorganic selenium and/or organoselenium compounds, which comprises contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at a suitable temperature with an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and recovering the selenium from the resulting selenium compound enriched aqueous phase in a form suitable for reuse in the preparation of urethanes, the deselenized urethane remaining in the hydrocarbon and/or organic phase.

Abstract: A process for producing pulverous selenium from dried raw selenium by distillation, granulating the molten distillate, dripping it into water, grinding the granules, and drying the powder, in which the drying of the raw selenium before the distillation is by spray drying, the selenium granules being ground while in the form of an aqueous slurry, and the final drying of the ground selenium slurry being again effected by spray drying.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the recovery and purification of arsenic/selenium alloys which are contaminated with organic and inorganic materials. The method comprises:A. dissolving the alloy in an aqueous solution of morpholine, piperidine or a lower aliphatic primary or secondary amine which is a solvent for the alloy but a non-solvent for the contaminants therein,B. physically separating the resulting alloy solution from the undissolved contaminants, andC. evaporating the alloy solution to dryness to recover the alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the reclamation of arsenic containing selenium scrap which comprises separating the scrap from various contaminants therein by fractional distillation to provide selenium of high purity. The recovered selenium is realloyed by contacting it with a master arsenic/selenium alloy containing 10 to 20% arsenic which master alloy has been prepared by the vapor/liquid combination of arsenic and selenium.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds which may be in the form of metallic selenium, inorganic selenium and/or organoselenium compounds which comprises contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at suitable temperatures with a supported metal or a mixture of metals and/or metal oxide compounds, said metal selectively chosen from Group B metals, i.e., Group IB through VIIIB, metals of the Periodic Table and particularly supported copper and mixtures of copper and other metal oxide compounds of said group.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium by liquid-liquid extraction from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds by contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at a suitable temperature with water and a saturated aliphatic or alicyclic paraffin hydrocarbon or mixtures thereof. The selenium may be recovered from the resulting hydrocarbon phase in the form of selenium per se or selenium dioxide for reuse in the preparation of urethanes.

Abstract: There are provided curable anaerobic pressure sensitive adhesive stocks in the form of sheets and tapes in which the adhesive is contained between two differential release surfaces. This construction permits total pressure sensitive adhesive transfer to a substrate which is to be firmly secured to another substrate upon the exclusion of oxygen and initiation of cure of the anaerobic resin.The compositions are those, based on the total weight of the composition, containing from about 4 to about 40 percent by weight of a first anaerobic resin having a viscosity up to about 1000 cps at 25.degree. C from 0 to about 80 percent by weight of a second anaerobic resin having a viscosity greater than about 1000 cps at 25.degree. C, from about 9 to 95 percent by weight of a thermoplastic resin system, from 0 to about 10 percent of a latent accelerator and about 0.1 to about 10 percent of a hydroperoxide catalyst, the composition having static shear at 0.25 in.sup.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds by contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at a suitable temperature with an aqueous solution of a mercuric salt compound or mixtures thereof to form an insoluble precipitate of mercury-selenium compounds or complexes. The selenium and mercury may be recovered from the resulting precipitate in a form suitable for reuse in the preparation of urethanes and selenium removal respectively.

Abstract: A method for the removal and recovery of selenium by liquid-liquid extraction from a urethane containing selenium compound by contacting a hydrocarbon solvent solution of the selenium-containing urethane at a suitable temperature with an aqueous ammonium hydroxide or alkali metal hydroxide solution and recovering the selenium from the resulting selenium compound enriched aqueous hydroxide phase; the deselenized urethane remaining in hydrocarbon phase.