Abstract: Chlorine dioxide is generated very efficiently and safely by reducing a chlorate in a strong acid in the presence of a complex catalyst consisting of palladium(II) and an amino acid or an alkali metal salt thereof.

Abstract: Metals are removed from waste materials that contain an organic component and a bimetallic salt complex component that comprises complexes having the formula M.sub.I M.sub.II X.sub.n .multidot.Aromatic and/or the formula M.sub.I M.sub.II X.sub.n .multidot.M.sub.II OX.multidot.Aromatic, wherein M.sub.I is a Group I-B metal, M.sub.II is a Group III-A metal, X is halogen, n is the sum of the valences of M.sub.I and M.sub.II, and Aromatic is a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon or halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 12 carbon atoms by contacting the waste material with water and sufficient alkali metal hydroxide to form a hydrolysis mixture which has a pH above 5 and which separates into an upper organic phase and a lower aqueous phase. After separation of the phases, there is obtained a slurry of M.sub.I oxide, M.sub.I hydroxide, and/or M.sub.II hydroxide from which the metals can be recovered or which can be discarded in ways that are not damaging to the environment.

Abstract: In the recovery of copper, nickel or zinc from sulfide ores by leaching with ammonium sulfate solution containing free ammonia in the presence of oxygen to form a leach solution containing dissolved copper, nickel or zinc ammonia sulfate complex, an alkaline metal hydroxide (preferably calcium hydroxide) is introduced into the leaching operation to precipitate the sulfate ion formed and to release ammonia combined therewith as ammonium ion.

Abstract: Metals are recovered from waste materials that contain an organic component and a bimetallic salt complex component that comprises complexes having the formula M.sub.I M.sub.II X.sub.n.Aromatic and/or the formula M.sub.I M.sub.II X.sub.n.M.sub.II OX.Aromatic, wherein M.sub.I is a Group I-B metal, M.sub.II is a Group III-A metal, X is halogen, n is the sum of the valences of M.sub.I and M.sub.II, and Aromatic is a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon or halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, by hydrolyzing the waste material with dilute hydrochloric acid to form a hydrolysis mixture that separates into an organic phase and an aqueous phase, and, after removing the organic phase, adding to the aqueous phase sufficient aluminum or another reducing metal to precipitate the Group I-B metal. After the precipitated metal has been removed from it, the aqueous solution is treated with sufficient base to precipitate the Group III-A metal hydroxyide, which is recovered from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A process for improving overall recovery of copper from an integrated mining and metallurgical processing operation by utilizing iron-containing copper ore materials as mined, such as low-grade copper ores and mine wastes, and crushed or granulated copper-containing slag obtained by smelting the higher-grade portions of such ore materials, involves the minign of such ore materials, the smelting of higher grade portions thereof, and the leaching of copper values from lower grade portions thereof with an aqueous, weakly acidic lixiviant to produce an acidic, ferric, effluent solution. The smelter slag is leached with the such effluent solution and copper values are recovered from the resulting pregnant solution. If desired, the barren solution may be recycled to the initial ore leaching step. By maintaining the pH of the acidic, ferric effluent solution from the initial leach within its normal range of about 1.9 to 3.

Abstract: Process for treating aqueous acidic solutions of cobalt and nickel values using certain fluorinated .beta.-diketones wherein the cobalt values are preferentially stripped from the loaded organic phase. Variations include preferential extraction of cobalt values, recovery of nickel from the raffinate and a second stripping step to recover nickel from the loaded organic.

Abstract: A method is provided for effecting the dissolution of a cobaltic hydroxide-containing precipitate which may also contain nickel, wherein an aqueous slurry of the precipitate containing trivalent metal is acidified to a pH of from about 0.1 to 2, and the aqueous slurry then treated with an organic reductant to effect substantial reduction of the trivalent metal to the divalent state and hence the dissolution of said precipitate.

Abstract: A method for recovering nonferrous metal values from hydroxide sludge wastes containing same by first chlorinating the aqueous waste to oxidize the chromium therein, separating the insoluble components therefrom and treating the resulting Cr(VI) solution in a fixed bed anion exchanger to separate the Cr(VI) from the solution, separating the copper from the aqueous solution by liquid-liquid extraction, separating the zinc from the copper-free solution by liquid-liquid extraction, precipitating and separating the aluminum in the form of hydroxide from the zinc-free solution and then separating the nickel from the aluminum-free solution by liquid-liquid extraction, and recovering the nonferrous metals from the respective solutions and precipitates by conventional procedures.

Abstract: A process for preparing a titanium trichloride composition comprises the steps of:(1) reducing titanium tetrachloride with oaganoaluminum compounds to produce a titanium trichloride composition having a .beta.-crystal structure;(2) heat treating the resulting titanium trichloride having a .beta.-crystal structure and subsequently pulverizing the heat-treated titanium trichloride in the presence or absence of titanium tetrachloride to produce a titanium trichloride composition containing substantially no titanium trichloride having a .beta.-crystal structure;(3) treating the pulverized titanium trichloride composition with a complexing agent; and(4) treating the resulting titanium trichloride composition with a compound selected from the group consisting of metal halide compounds having Lewis acidity and interhalogen compounds.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for synthesizing a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite containing an organic nitrogen cation in the presence of a primary monoalkylamine having 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion. The method produces a zeolite having a very low percentage, i.e. less than about 0.14 weight percent, generally less than about 0.1 weight percent of alkali metal, e.g. sodium, in the as-synthesized form. The product can be used directly as a catalyst without intermediate precalcination and cation exchange. This is not possible with zeolites such as those of the ZSM-5 type synthesized by the methods of the art.

Abstract: Ammonium jarosite is converted to hematite or magnetite and ammonium sulphate. The invention can be used for removing iron from a feed solution containing dissolved ferrous sulphate. The feed solution is treated with ammonium sulphate and oxygen to precipitate ammonium jarosite which is then separated from the treated solution to produce an ammonium jarosite slurry and a separated solution containing sulphate ions. The ammonium jarosite slurry is treated with ammonia to convert the ammonium jarosite to hematite or magnetite and ammonium sulphate solution. The ammonium sulphate solution is separated from the hematite or magnetite, and a portion of the separated ammonium sulphate solution is recycled to the ammonium jarosite precipitation step, the remaining portion of the separated ammonium sulphate solution being recovered.

Abstract: A continuous reaction is carried out between gaseous SO.sub.2, I.sub.2 and liquid H.sub.2 O in a substantially vertical reaction zone. H.sub.2 O plus I.sub.2 in a substantial excess are supplied to an upper location at preselected rates. SO.sub.2 is injected into the zone at a lower location, and a desired temperature is maintained at an intermediate location where the reaction proceeds to produce sulfuric acid and hydrogen iodide. The reaction products are removed from a location near the bottom at a rate proportional to the preselected rates to cause a continuous downward flow within the reaction zone. The SO.sub.2 flow rate assures that substantially all of the SO.sub.2 either reacts or is absorbed by the downward traveling nongaseous reactants.

Abstract: Mercury and caustic values are recovered from caustic sludges in a process which comprises intermixing the caustic sludge with a liquid under pressure or agitation to produce a caustic slurry which is separated into a caustic liquor, metallic mercury and a remaining sludge which is suitable for roasting in a retort to recover better than 99 percent of the mercury in the sludge.The process recovers valuable mercury and caustic materials and eliminates pollution of natural resources which was formerly caused when these sludges were disposed of in landfill operations. In addition, the process reduces potential hazards to personnel handling the caustic sludges and requires no addition of chemicals which produce undesirable by-products and add to the cost of the recovery process.

Abstract: Zinc ferrite oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst are activated by the use of only steam.

Abstract: The process of leaching manganiferous ocean nodule ores with HCl whereby the manganese and other metals present, such as iron, zinc, cobalt, nickel, copper, and like are converted from oxides, silicates or other insoluble forms to water soluble chlorides, and are thereafter separated, purified, and the manganese recovered as MnO.sub.2 by oxidation with chlorine to provide a material suitable for use in metallurgical applications, may be improved by controlling the chlorine pressure and the pH of the leaching reaction in order to first leach out the metals other than manganese; as chloride, and thereafter recovering the manganese in the form of its silicate, aluminate, oxide, or the like.

Abstract: .alpha.-Alkylbenzyl alcohol and substituted .alpha.-alkylbenzyl alcohols are converted in high yield and purity to styrene and substituted styrenes by contacting the alcohol in vapor phase with silica gel and steam.

Abstract: A process for the production of highly pure concentrated hydrofluoric acid by purifying crude HF gas containing H.sub.2 O, SO.sub.2, SiF.sub.4, S,CaF.sub.2, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and CaSO.sub.4 and obtained in the reaction of fluorite and sulphuric acid, whereby the resultant HF has an H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 content of the order of a few ppm, there are substantially no deposits of CaSO.sub.4 in the first H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 washing circuit and the service life of the system is considerably lengthened.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for the treatment of a soluble silicate-bearing material for the recovery of its valuable metal content by leaching the silicate-bearing material at an elevated temperature with an aqueous solution of a mineral acid, precipitating silicic acid during the same stage in an easily settling and filtering form, the silicate-bearing material being added at such a rate that its concentration calculated as SiO.sub.2 corresponds to the simultaneously precipitating silicic acid quantity, and by finally separating the solid material from the valuable-metal-bearing solution.

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 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.