Abstract: Toxic cyanide and anionic metal species are removed from aqueous alkaline solutions by contacting the aqueous alkaline solutions with an extractant compound which is capable of being protonated at a pH of 9 or above. Whereby the anionic metal species is extracted from the aqueous alkaline solution, subsequently stripping the metal values from the extractant and recovering the metal species, preferably by electrowinning. The process is useful in a flotation process in which a recycled aqueous process stream is employed in that the toxic cyanide ion and anionic metal species are removed prior to recycling of the aqueous process stream for flotation.

Abstract: A process for the separation of naphthalenesulfonate-based carbonyl condensates from water is provided. The process comprises contacting a mixture comprised of water and a naphthalenesulfonate-based carbonyl condensate (preferably a material selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde condensates of naphthalenesulfonic acids, formaldehyde condensates of lower-alkyl substituted naphthalenesulfonic acids, and mixtures of two or more of such materials) with a liquid organic phase comprised of a lipophilic non-quaternary amine to form an aqueous phase depleted with respect to said mixture of naphthalenesulfonate-based carbonyl condensate and a liquid organic phase enriched in naphthalenesulfonate-based carbonyl condensate. The process further comprises separating said aqueous phase depleted with respect to said mixture of naphthalenesulfonate-based carbonyl condensate and said liquid organic phase enriched with respect to naphthalenesulfonate-based carbonyl condensate.

Abstract: Toxic cyanide and anionic metal species are removed from aqueous alkaline solutions by contacting the aqueous alkaline solutions with a compound which is capable of being protonated at a pH of 9 or above.