Abstract: Methods to recover or separate cesium formate or rubidium formate or both from a mixed alkali metal formate blend are described. One method involves adding cesium sulfate or rubidium sulfate to the mixed alkali metal formate blend in order to preferentially precipitate potassium sulfate from the mixed alkali metal formate blend. Another method involves adding cesium carbonate or cesium bicarbonate or both to preferentially precipitate potassium carbonate/bicarbonate and/or other non-cesium or non-rubidium metals from the mixed alkali metal blend. Further optional steps are also described. Still one other method involves converting cesium sulfate to cesium hydroxide.

Abstract: Methods to recover or separate cesium formate or rubidium formate or both from a mixed alkali metal formate blend are described. One method involves adding cesium sulfate or rubidium sulfate to the mixed alkali metal formate blend in order to preferentially precipitate potassium sulfate from the mixed alkali metal formate blend. Another method involves adding cesium carbonate or cesium bicarbonate or both to preferentially precipitate potassium carbonate/bicarbonate and/or other non-cesium or non-rubidium metals from the mixed alkali metal blend. Further optional steps are also described. Still one other method involves converting cesium sulfate to cesium hydroxide.

Abstract: Methods to recover or separate cesium formate or rubidium formate or both from a mixed alkali metal formate blend are described. One method involves adding cesium sulfate or rubidium sulfate to the mixed alkali metal formate blend in order to preferentially precipitate potassium sulfate from the mixed alkali metal formate blend. Another method involves adding cesium carbonate or cesium bicarbonate or both to preferentially precipitate potassium carbonate/bicarbonate and/or other non-cesium or non-rubidium metals from the mixed alkali metal blend. Further optional steps are also described. Still one other method involves converting cesium sulfate to cesium hydroxide.

Abstract: A method to liberate and recover cesium, rubidium, or both from ore or other material is described. The method involves heating the ore or other material in the presence of at least one reactant. The heating is such that it liberates at least a portion of the cesium or rubidium or both from the ore. Cesium or rubidium or both resulting from the method are further described.

Abstract: Methods to recover or separate cesium formate or rubidium formate or both from a mixed alkali metal formate blend are described. One method involves adding cesium sulfate or rubidium sulfate to the mixed alkali metal formate blend in order to preferentially precipitate potassium sulfate from the mixed alkali metal formate blend. Another method involves adding cesium carbonate or cesium bicarbonate or both to preferentially precipitate potassium carbonate/bicarbonate and/or other non-cesium or non-rubidium metals from the mixed alkali metal blend. Further optional steps are also described. Still one other method involves converting cesium sulfate to cesium hydroxide.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one metallic element from ore or other material is described and includes reacting ore or other material with a salt capable of recovering the metallic element from the ore or other material to form a reaction product that includes the metallic element. The method also includes recovering the metallic element from the reaction product. To remove the metallic element from the reaction product, the method can involve crushing the reaction product to form a crushed material and dissolving the crushed material in a solvent to remove the precipitates, thereby leaving a sulfate solution containing the metallic element.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one metallic element from ore or other material is described and includes reacting ore or other material with a salt capable of recovering the metallic element from the ore or other material to form a reaction product that includes the metallic element. The method also includes recovering the metallic element from the reaction product. To remove the metallic element from the reaction product, the method can involve crushing the reaction product to form a crushed material and dissolving the crushed material in a solvent to remove the precipitates, thereby leaving a sulfate solution containing the metallic element.

Abstract: A method of making a cesium salt is described and involves reacting a cesium sulfate containing solution with lime to form 1) a solution containing at least cesium hydroxide and 2) a residue comprising calcium sulfate. The method further involves removing the residue from the solution and converting the cesium hydroxide that is present in the solution to at least one type of cesium salt. The present invention further relates to uses of the cesium salt as well as methods of making cesium hydroxide using lime. Also, methods of making alkali metal salts and alkali metal hydroxides are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a cesium salt is described and involves reacting a cesium sulfate containing solution with lime to form 1) a solution containing at least cesium hydroxide and 2) a residue comprising calcium sulfate. The method further involves removing the residue from the solution and converting the cesium hydroxide that is present in the solution to at least one type of cesium salt. The present invention further relates to uses of the cesium salt as well as methods of making cesium hydroxide using lime. Also, methods of making alkali metal salts and alkali metal hydroxides are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a predetermined cesium compound. The method comprises treating a cesium-containing material with a suitable reagent to dissolve at least a portion of the cesium contained in the material and form a slurry; adding a base comprising slaked lime or calcium carbonate and an acid containing the anion of the predetermined cesium compound to the slurry comprising the dissolved cesium; and separating the predetermined cesium compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a predetermined cesium compound. The method comprises treating a cesium-containing material with a suitable reagent to dissolve at least a portion of the cesium contained in the material and form a slurry; adding a base comprising slaked lime or calcium carbonate and an acid containing the anion of the predetermined cesium compound to the slurry comprising the dissolved cesium; and separating the predetermined cesium compound.

Abstract: A metallurgical processing system for economically recovering metal values, such as columbium, tantalum, thorium, and uranium from dilute source solids, such as digestion sludges, by a series of steps including:1) slurrying the source solids with dilute hydrofluoric acid to produce a solid phase and a liquid phase containing dissolved tantalum and columbium, then extracting tantalum and/or columbium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid ion-exchange process and then, additionally;2) roasting the solid phase with sulfuric acid to recover and recycle hydrofluoric acid, leaching the roasted solids with dilute sulfuric acid to produce a disposable solid phase and a liquid phase containing thorium and uranium, and extracting thorium and uranium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid-liquid amine extraction process.