Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving dewatering of mineral slurry. The method comprises adding an R-Succinic Compound (such as octadecenyl succinic acid, hexadecenyl succinic acid, and/or dodecenyl succinic acid) to the slurry. The R-Succinic Compound removes water that would otherwise be trapped within the filtered slurry cake.

Abstract: Homogeneous water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) for the oxidation of water to produce hydrogen ions and oxygen, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the WOC is a polyoxometalate WOC which is hydrolytically stable, oxidatively stable, and thermally stable. The WOC oxidized waters in the presence of an oxidant. The oxidant can be generated photochemically, using light, such as sunlight, or electrochemically using a positively biased electrode. The hydrogen ions are subsequently reduced to form hydrogen gas, for example, using a hydrogen evolution catalyst (HEC). The hydrogen gas can be used as a fuel in combustion reactions and/or in hydrogen fuel cells. The catalysts described herein exhibit higher turn over numbers, faster turn over frequencies, and/or higher oxygen yields than prior art catalysts.

Abstract: The inventive extraction/separation method involves the step of contacting an organic phase containing a dialkyldiglycol amic acid extractant: R1R2NCOCH2OCH2COOH with an aqueous solution containing scandium and zirconium and/or hafnium for thereby extracting zirconium and/or hafnium into the organic phase. The purity of scandium can be efficiently increased by the simple step of solvent extraction.

Abstract: A process for treating spent catalyst containing heavy metals, e.g., Group VIB metals and Group VIII metals is provided. In one embodiment after deoiling, the spent catalyst is treated with an ammonia leach solution under conditions sufficient to dissolve the group VIB metal and the Group VIII metal into the leaching solution, forming a leach slurry. After solid-liquid separation to recover a leach solution, chemical precipitation and solids repulping is carried out to obtain an effluent stream containing ammonium sulfate (Amsul), ammonium sulfamate, Group VB, Group VIB and Group VIII metals. Following sulfidation, the Group VIII metal is fully removed and Group VB and Group VI metals are partially removed from the Amsul stream.

Abstract: Modeling compounds and methods for making the same are described. The modeling compounds, in some embodiments, comprise about 20% to about 40% by weight starch-based binder, and about 0.15% to about 1.2% by weight microspheres dispersed throughout the compounds. In some embodiments, the modeling compound further comprises vinylpyrrolidone polymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying 68Ge/68Ga generator produced 68Ga from Fe (III). The invention further relates to an automated system within an existing Gallea Synthia prototype that provides purification 68Ga from various cations and preconcentrations of 68Ga. In general, the present invention further depicts the use of an automated system for the production of 68Ga-radiolabelled PET tracers with high specific radioactivity and a kit for purifying 68Ge/68Ga generator produced 68Ga from Fe (III).

Abstract: Provided is a production method for refining iron oxide (hematite), which has such a low sulfur content as to be used as an iron-making raw material, from a leach residue containing iron oxide produced by a high pressure acid leach (HPAL) process. In the method for refining iron oxide for ironmaking by a process of adding sulfuric acid to nickel oxide ore and then leaching nickel from the nickel oxide ore using a pressure vessel, an amount of the sulfuric acid added is 150 kg or more and 220 kg or less per ton of nickel oxide ore.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium activated alumina intercalate solid by contacting a three-dimensional activated alumina with a lithium salt under conditions sufficient to infuse lithium salts into activated alumina for the selective extraction and recovery of lithium from lithium containing solutions, including brines.

Abstract: A method for improving the filterability in separating a zinc sulfide, produced by applying sulfurization treatment to a post-neutralization solution containing zinc together with nickel and cobalt in a dezincification step in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore. The method includes a neutralization reaction step of neutralizing leachate in a neutralization tank, a separation step of separating neutralized slurry into a neutralized sediment and a post-neutralization solution by adding flocculant to the neutralized slurry, a measuring step of measuring the viscosity of the post-neutralization solution, a step of storing the post-neutralization solution in a storage tank, and a transfer step of transferring the stored post-neutralization solution to a dezincification reaction tank used in a dezincification step subsequent to a neutralization step.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extraction solvent for extracting metallic elements that is characterized in that: the total concentration of chlorine (Cl2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is from 20 to 1000 ppm; chlorine (Cl2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are included at a molar ratio of 1:1 to 1:11; the oxidation-reduction potential is from 1100 to 1400 mV; and the pH is from 1.7 to 3.7. The present invention also provides a method for producing said extraction solvent, and a method for recovering metallic elements by using said extraction solvent.

Abstract: A plastic molding composition includes a powder, gelatin, a polar solvent, and an adhesion reducer. The powder contains at least one of a ceramic particle and a metal particle. The adhesion reducer reduces adhesion of the gelatin so that a molded product, which is molded from the composition with a molding die, is removed from the molding die without being broken. The adhesion reducer is a water-soluble or water-dispersible compound. The adhesion reducer has a HLB value, calculated by Griffin's method, ranging from 10 to 20.

Abstract: Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which amine-based lixiviants are utilized in substoichiometric amounts to recover alkaline earths from raw or waste materials. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process or returned to a reactor in a continuous process. Extraction of the alkaline earth from the raw material and precipitation of the extracted alkaline earth is performed in the same reactor and essentially simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst having surface-modified metal nanoparticles immobilized in a stationary phase in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is formed, and a preparation method thereof. The catalyst of the present invention may be used in a process for producing hydrogen peroxide by direct synthesis from oxygen and hydrogen.

Abstract: A process for cold hydrochemical decomposition of sodium hydrogen aluminosilicate. The process includes decomposing sodium hydrogen aluminosilicate at low temperature with a chelate to form a solution of soluble compounds and insoluble contaminants; separating the insoluble contaminants from the solution with a coagulator and heating to coagulate the silicic acid and form a silicic acid gel; separating the silicic acid gel to form a silicic acid-free solution; decomposing the silicic acid-free solution to form a precipitate of sodium hydrogen carboaluminate and a mother liquor; separating the precipitate from the mother liquor; concentrating, cooling and regenerating the mother liquor and forming sodium hydrogen carbonate; separating the sodium hydrogen carbonate from the regenerated solution; and calcining the sodium hydrogen carboaluminate at a temperature of about 700 to about 900° C. and forming sodium aluminate.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for shortening operation shutdown time of high pressure acid leach equipment in a hydrometallurgical process, wherein the high pressure acid leach equipment comprises (i) means to transfer an ore slurry into the high pressure acid leach equipment;(ii) means to increase temperature and pressure of an ore slurry before leaching; (iii) means to add sulfuric acid into the high pressure acid leach equipment and to leach the ore slurry to obtain a leached slurry at high temperature under high pressure; (iv) means to adjust the pressure of the leached slurry; and (v) means to discharge the leached from the high pressure acid leach equipment; wherein, upon operation shutdown of the high pressure acid leach equipment, the leached slurry is subjected to self-circulation inside the high pressure acid leach equipment.

Abstract: A method (10) for the extraction and recovery of vanadium from its ores, the method (10) characterised by the steps of: (i) Acid leaching (12) of an ore containing vanadium and iron to extract vanadium and iron into solution; (ii) Passing the product (78) of the leach step (i) to a solid/liquid separation step (80); (iii) Passing the liquid product (82) of separation step (ii) to a solvent extraction step (14) in which vanadium and iron are extracted into an organic extractant from that liquid product; (iv) Passing the loaded organic extractant produced in step (iii) to a stripping step (16, 18) in which acid is used to selectively and sequentially strip the vanadium and iron from the organic extractant; and (v) Passing the vanadium containing strip solution of step (iv) to a recovery step (104).

Abstract: Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of alkaline earth elements. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process. Multiple alkaline earth elements can be recovered from a sample in parallel or in serial applications of the disclosed methods.

Abstract: A process for extracting uranium from an acidic uranium, chloride, iron and sulphate containing solution, including the steps: a. contacting the solution with an organic phase containing a trialkylphosphine oxide to form a uranium loaded organic phase; b. scrubbing the uranium loaded organic phase to remove any impurities and form a scrubbed organic phase; c. stripping the scrubbed organic phase with an acidic sulphate solution to produce an aqueous uranium strip solution; and precipitating a uranium product from the aqueous uranium strip solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for recovering scandium from scandium-containing intermediate products, formed during hydrometallurgical processing of scandium-containing feed materials, including: (a) leaching of the scandium-containing intermediate products with a suitable acid at a controlled pH selected to maximize scandium extraction and minimize the co-extraction of impurities, (b) solid/liquid separation, to obtain a scandium-containing leach solution; (c) selective precipitation of the scandium at a controlled pH from the scandium-containing leach solution using a suitable base, (d) solid/liquid separation, to obtain an upgraded scandium concentrate and a barren solution for return to the hydrometallurgical process. A further upgraded scandium concentrate can be obtained by (e) alkaline leaching of the upgraded scandium concentrate for additional removal of impurities, and (f) solid/liquid separation to obtain a further upgraded scandium concentrate and impurities-containing base solution.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for separating at least one first chemical element E1 from at least one second chemical element E2 coexisting in a mixture in the form of oxides, comprising the following steps: a) a step to solubilise a powder of one or more oxides of the said at least one first chemical element E1 and a powder of one or more oxides of the said at least one second chemical element E2 in a medium comprising at least one molten salt of formula MF—AlF3 wherein M is an alkaline element, after which there results after this step a mixture comprising the said molten salt, a fluoride of the said at least one first chemical elements E1 and a fluoride of the said at least one second chemical element E2; b) a step to contact the mixture resulting from step a) with a medium comprising a metal in the liquid state, the said metal being a reducing agent capable of predominantly reducing the said at least one first chemical element E1 relative to the said at least one second chemical element E2, after