Abstract: Process for the recovery of uranium from wet process phosphoric acid solution in which an organic extractant, containing uranium values and dissolved iron impurities and comprising a dialkylphosphoric acid and a trialkylphosphine oxide dissolved in a water immiscible organic solvent, is contacted with a substantially iron-free dilute aqueous phosphoric acid to remove said iron impurities. The removed impurities are bled from the system by feeding the resulting iron-loaded phosphoric acid to a secondary countercurrent uranium extraction operation from which they leave as part of the uranium-depleted acid raffinate. Also, process for recovering uranium in which the extractant, after it has been stripped of uranium values by aqueous ammonium carbonate, is contacted with a dilute aqueous acid selected from the group consisting of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, HCl, HNO.sub.3 and iron-free H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 to improve the extraction efficiency of the organic extractant.

Abstract: Apparatus for and process of mining a subterranean granular ore deposit through a well bore where the ore is eroded from the ore matrix by one or more laterally directed jets of fluid, e.g. water, forming an ore-bearing slurry. The apparatus comprises:A. a rotatable tool string having a first fluid passage through which fluid flows downwardly and a first slurry passage through which a slurry of said fluid and granular ore flows upwardly,B. supported therefrom underground a substantially rigid housing containing an outwardly directed cutting jet nozzle for impinging said fluid against said ore to form said slurry and having1. a second fluid passage therein connecting said first fluid passage with said jet nozzle,2. a slurry inlet through said housing,3. a second slurry passage connecting said inlet with said first slurry passage, and4.

Abstract: An ammoniacal solution containing nickel and cobalt is contacted with an extractant comprising an oxime or oxine compound dissolved in an organic diluent to selectively extract the nickel into the organic phase while leaving most of the cobalt in the aqueous ammoniacal phase from which it is subsequently recovered. The nickel-loaded organic extract is washed with water and aqueous carbon dioxide to remove and recover ammonia which undesirably transfers to the organic phase during the extraction. The ammonia-free, nickel-loaded extract is then stripped with aqueous sulfuric acid at low temperature to remove the nickel. The ammonia-free nickel sulfate solution produced in the stripping operation is particularly suitable for recovering the nickel by electrolytic deposition.

Abstract: The sulfides of nickel and cobalt prepared by sulfiding nickel and cobalt-enriched ammoniacal solutions oxidize rapidly (and often pyrophorically) when exposed to normal atmospheric conditions. The oxidized sulfides then react with water present in the atmosphere in a hydration reaction. This oxidation and hydration may increase the weight of the sulfides by as much as 150% or more, depending upon such factors as the type of sulfides involved and the duration of the exposure. However, when nickel sulfide, cobalt sulfide, or mixtures thereof are dried, dehydrated, heated at temperatures of about 1000.degree.F. or higher in a substantially inert atmosphere, and then cooled in a substantially inert atmosphere, the sulfides can surprisingly be exposed to normal atmospheric conditions for prolonged periods of time without undergoing significant oxidation or hydration. Consequently, only minimal weight increases are observed with the treated sulfides.

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: Aqueous AlF.sub.3 enriched crystallization mother liquors contaminated with P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values and having less than 5% free acidity are treated with a material which provides bismuth ions in the mother liquor in amounts small enough to insure that the Bi/PO.sub.4 mole ratio remains below about 1.05. Under these conditions, the bismuth and P.sub.2 O.sub.5 react essentially quantitatively to form a BiPO.sub.4 precipitate by which the P.sub.2 O.sub.5 can be separated from the mother liquor. Bismuth can be regenerated from the BiPO.sub.4 and recycled for further use in the process.The invention finds utility in the preparation of AlF.sub.3 by the reaction of an aluminum ore and P.sub.2 O.sub.5 contaminated HF or H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 such as that available as a by-product of wet process phosphoric acid manufacture. The AlF.sub.3 reaction product is recovered by a crystallization step which, because it is normally only about 70 to 90% efficient, produces a mother liquor containing substantial amounts of AlF.sub.3.

Abstract: A method is described for the oxidation-leaching of chalcopyrite concentrates at high temperatures and pressures for the extraction of copper values as copper sulfate in which temperatures are maintained between about 425.degree. and 450.degree.F, oxygen partial pressures of between about 50 and 200 psi are provided, and levels of acidity are permitted to increase above about 50 grams of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 per liter in order to obtain maximum rates of extraction of virtually all of the copper. Thereafter, while maintaining the temperature and pressure at elevated levels, the acidity of the slurry is reduced to between about 10 and 40 grams of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 per liter in order to obtain reduction of dissolved iron to optimal levels. The resulting slurry is then cooled and further processed for the production of a very pure copper sulfate solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high temperature-high pressure acid leaching of sulfide ores is described. The apparatus includes an autoclave having a plurality of pressurized compartments and a water removing-heat removing condenser. Means are described for the introduction of a neutralizing agent directly into the autoclave in order to maintain the acidity of the slurry at a level where substantially all of the iron present in the slurry will form an insoluble iron oxide precipitate. Means are described for removing the gaseous products resulting from the introduction of the neutralizing agent while avoiding contamination thereby of a substantial portion of the oxygen.

Abstract: An aluminum-containing ore such as a kaolin or montmorillonite clay is treated with a fluorine acid such as HF or H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 to produce aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) which is recovered from the liquid phase of the reaction mixture by crystallization as AlF.sub.3 . 3H.sub.2 O crystals which are then dried and dehydrated to yield AlF.sub.3. The crystallization mother liquor is recycled to the process to recover its AlF.sub.3 values. The AlF.sub.3 . 3H.sub.2 O crystals and separated solid phase of the reaction mixture are washed to recover AlF.sub.3 values and the wash streams are recycled to the process. To produce alumina, the AlF.sub.3 is pyrohydrolyzed to Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and HF. The HF is absorbed in the crystallization mother liquor and recycled with the mother liquor to the ore treatment step. All or a part of fluorine acid requirements can also be supplied from any suitable source such as, for example, a wet process phosphoric acid facility which is a plentiful source of inexpensive fluorine.