Abstract: A process for recovering metallic cobalt from an aqueous ammoniacal solution containing dissolved cobalt and other metals as ammine sulphates with substantially all the dissolved cobalt being in cobaltic form. The process includes contacting the solution with a water immiscible liquid ion exchange reagent dissolved in an inert organic diluent to selectively substantially completely extract the other metals from the solution and produce an organic extractant loaded with the other metals and an aqueous cobalt bearing raffinate substantially free of the other metals. The cobalt bearing raffinate is separated from the loaded organic extractant and the loaded organic extractant is washed to remove substantially all ammonia therefrom. The other metals are stripped from the washed organic extractant which is then recycled to treat further solution. Cobalt is recovered from the raffinate.

Abstract: A process for recovery of zinc values contained in thermally activated iron containing copper and zinc sulfides in which said activated sulfides have been subjected to an acid leach in aqueous sulfuric acid to produce a solution of ferrous sulfate and a solids residue containing copper and zinc values. The solids residue containing copper and zinc values is reacted with an acidic copper sulfate solution to precipitate copper values as a simple copper sulfide with concurrent dissolution of iron and zinc values to form a solution of ferrous sulfate containing said dissolved zinc values and said solution of ferrous sulfate is separated from the simple copper sulfides and reacted with H.sub.2 S for precipitation of zinc values therefrom as zinc sulfide. Any nickel and cobalt values present in said activated sulfides is dissolved in said solution of ferrous sulfate and reacted with the H.sub.2 S at elevated temperature for selective precipitaton.

Abstract: Substantially pure copper is produced from impure cupriferous materials by leaching the cupriferous material with an ammonium sulfate-containing ammoniacal solution in the presence of oxygen, followed by separating the copper-containing aqueous liquor from the insoluble leach residue and contacting the thus separated leach liquor with an organic extractant of the metal ion exchange type to extract the copper from the leach liquor. The organic phase comprising the copper-bearing organic extractant is separated from the aqueous phase comprising the leach liquor of reduced copper content, and the resulting copper-bearing organic extractant is contacted with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid to strip the copper from the copper-bearing extractant.

Abstract: An improvement in the process of producing substantially oxide free copper from copper salts by reacting an acidic aqueous solution which contains the copper salts with a reducing gas at elevated temperature and pressure to precipitate metallic copper. The improvement for producing copper in free-flowing powder form comprises providing in the aqueous solution a finite amount of an addition agent selected from the group consisting of polymeric polyamine compounds having amino groups linked by alkyl groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Direct pressure leaching of zinc and iron containing mineral sulphides in dilute H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is carried out in a two-stage countercurrent process in which finely divided sulphides are leached in a first leaching stage with solution from the second leaching stage to produce a first stage leach solution containing a high zinc concentration and low iron and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 concentrations. The first stage solution, after suitable purification treatment, may be treated for zinc recovery by conventional electrowinning. The residue from the first stage leach is pressure leached with return electrolyte from the electrowinning operation with the leach end solution being passed to the first stage leach as already stated. The acid and sulphides concentrations in each of the first and second leaching stage is controlled such that (1) sufficient acid and sulphides enter the leaching circuit to ensure that the final leach solution exiting from the first leaching stage will contain sufficient dissolved zinc, e.g.

Abstract: Apparatus for discharge handling metal sheets from a rack consists of a pair of tiltable tables, plan dimensioned to telescope inside the rack when the latter is lowered over the tables; each table has a vertically disposed stop and a vertically positioned member slidable towards the stop. A pull down for the rack ensures that the sheets which are supported by spaced apart pins are lowered sufficiently below the tables to free the sheets from the pins at which time the slidable members move each to their respective stop to pack the sheets. The tables are then tilted until the stops are horizontal and the slidable members retract after which the packs are moved off the tables on to adjacent loading stations.

Abstract: A process is described for recovering metals which are present in aqueous solution as complex metal ammine ions having an ammonia co-ordination of at least two. According to the process, the complex metal ammine bearing solution is contacted with a cationic ion exchange resin in the ammonium form to effect loading of the complex metal ammine ions from the solution onto the resin. The loaded resin is then stripped by contacting it with a controlled volume of aqueous ammonium salt stripping solution having an ammonium ion concentration of at least two molar. The free ammonia and ammonium salt concentrations in the stripping solution are controlled such that the controlled volume of stripping solution is effective to substantially completely strip the free ammonia and metal values from the resin.

Abstract: The assembly is composed of a framework having a longitudinal passage for receipt of a pipe to be wrapped and a number of crawler wheels which contact the outer wall of the pipe and which cause the framework to move longitudinally relative to the pipe. The assembly also includes brushes and wrapping assemblies mounted to rings which circumscribe the pipe. Rotation of the rings causes the brushes to scour the pipe outer wall and tape to unwind from the wrapping assembly onto the pipe. Hydraulic motors are provided on the assembly for powering the crawler wheels, brushes and wrapping assemblies. The hydraulic motors are activated by hydraulic fluid pressurized by pumps located remote from the assembly.

Abstract: A process is described for producing cobalt powder having a particle size of about 2 microns or smaller. The process involves two basic operations: Firstly, finely divided cobaltous carbonate is prepared by precipitation from a cobaltous ammine-ammonium sulphate solution by reacting the solution with carbon dioxide. Secondly, the cobalt carbonate precipitate is separated from the solution and is dry-reduced with hydrogen under controlled conditions of time and temperature to produce finely divided elemental cobalt powder. Cobalt powders produced in accordance with the invention are particularly suitable for manufacture of sintered carbide products as well as for use in magnetic products such as magnetic inks and tapes.

Abstract: The process involves subjecting finely divided particles of copper-bearing mineral sulphide ores or concentrates to a first stage leach in which the particles are leached in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the presence of free oxygen to provide a first stage leach slurry which contains dissolved copper values. Residue is separated from the first stage leach slurry and is subjected to attrition in order to rub off an outer layer therefrom and expose surfaces of the residue beneath the layer. The resulting residue is passed to a second stage leach which is carried out in the same way as the first leach. Solution is removed from the second leach stage and is recycled to the first leach stage. The first stage leach solution is further treated for recovery of copper and ammonium sulphate.

Abstract: According to the process described, non-ferrous metal values, particularly nickel, copper and/or cobalt, are extracted from metallurgical intermediates, such as matte and speiss, by reacting the material under oxidizing conditions at a pH of about 4.5 to 6.5 with an ammonia free aqueous solution containing ammonium sulphate, sodium sulphate and/or nickel sulphate. The reaction-products of this operation are then mixed with sulphuric acid under ambient conditions to decrease the pH to about 3-4.5 and to dissolve the non-ferrous metals in the solution which is then separated from the undissolved residue. The process is particularly useful in treating intermediates containing precious metals in that the precious metals are substantially completely recovered in concentrated form in the undissolved residue.

Abstract: A cobalt powder product is described which is composed of cobalt particles about 0.8 microns or smaller in size and have refractory oxide particles fixed on the surfaces thereof. The powder is particularly suitable for manufacture of sintered carbide products as well as for use in magnetic products such as magnetic inks and tapes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of trimming selvage from a succession of books. According to the method, a saw is provided having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces which merge at a cutting edge. One of the surfaces is substantially flat throughout its length or throughout all but the area of the surface adjacent the cutting edge. The latter area is bevelled as is the other surface of the saw. The books are advanced toward the saw and the saw is so positioned relative to the books such that its cutting run is normal to the direction of book advance and is parallel to the plane of the pages of the books. The saw is also positioned such that its first-mentioned surface faces pages trimmed by the saw and its other surface faces selvage trimmed by the saw.

Abstract: A process is described whereby accumulated impurities, consisting mainly of sodium tiocyanate are continuously removed from scrubbing liquors used for removal of hydrogen sulphide from fuel gases and the liquors thereby regenerated and re-used in the hydrogen sulphide scrubbing operation. The thiocyanate is removed by contacting the used scrubbing liquor with an organic solvent, e.g. n-butanol, separating the thiocyanate-bearing solvent from the scrubbing liquor, re-using the treated scrubbing liquor, recovering the thiocyanate from the solvent and re-using the solvent. The extracted sodium thiocyanate can be converted to pure, saleable chemicals or converted to an alkali which can be re-used in the absorbing liquors, thereby producing a completely closed system with no effluent.

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 crown suspension consists of upper and lower dome-shaped elements each having a central portion and radially extending legs. The legs of the upper element are connected to the shell and means is provided for adjusting the position of the legs of the lower element relative to the upper element legs to enable the lower element to be fitted to various sized heads.

Abstract: A two-component blank suitable for minting into a coin is described. The blank consists of a low-carbon steel core completely encased in nickel. The blank has magnetic properties sufficiently similar to a solid nickel coin of the same size that the minted blank is accepted by magnetic property testing coin discriminating devices which accept pure nickel coins.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for leaching finely divided lead sulphide bearing material to convert contained lead values to soluble lead acetate with concurrent conversion of sulphur values associated with the lead sulphide to an elemental state. The method involves forming a slurry consisting of the material dispersed in an aqueous medium containing free acetate ions and having a pH below 5.1. The slurry is reacted at a temperature of 60.degree. to 120.degree.C. with a free oxygen-bearing gas under a partial pressure of oxygen of 20 to 60 p.s.i. in order to convert lead sulphide to soluble lead acetate with concurrent production of insoluble elemental sulphur.