Abstract: The invention provides a process for the selective dissolution of oxygenated compounds containing at least one non-ferrous metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, zinc, and copper, present in a mixture of oxygenated compounds containing said at least one non-ferrous metal and at least one element selected from the group consisting of lead, cobalt, iron, manganese, and silicon, and comprises suspending the mixture of the oxygenated metallic compounds in an aqueous phase which, preferably, contains chloride and alkaline earth metal ions; treating the resulting aqueous suspension, maintained at a pH exceeding about 1, with chlorine, preferably at a temperature ranging from about 60.degree. C. to the boiling point of the suspension, to selectively solubilize the said at least one non-ferrous metal while the said at least one element remains in an essentially insoluble residue; and separating the aqueous solution containing the dissolved said at least one non-ferrous metal from the insoluble residue.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for extracting zinc from a sulphur- and zinc-containing ore which involves (a) leaching the sulphur ore or concentrate with an aqueous solution of cupric chloride, which can be regenerated by means of a regenerating agent and air; (b) subjecting the solution thus obtained to liquid-liquid extraction by means of an organic phase, preferably containing a solvent, comprising an acid organophosphorus compound; and (c) recovering the zinc contained in the said organic phase after the said extraction, preferably by elution. If justified by the composition of the ore, the following optional recovery steps may then be performed:(1) if lead is present, recovery of lead by cementation (i.e., precipitation) or by crystallization of lead dichloride followed by cementation of the crystallizate;(2) if copper is present, recovery of copper by cementation or by liquid-liquid extraction; and(3) if precious metals, e.g.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for treating a nickel matte to recover essentially pure nickel comprising: treating an aqueous mixture of the matte with chlorine to produce a solid residue and an aqueous lixiviating solution having a pH value which is substantially nil or positive; treating the lixiviating solution to produce a solution containing primarily nickel chloride; and electrolyzing the solution to recover pure nickel at the cathode.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for selectively solubilizing the non-ferrous metals contained in sulphurized ores and concentrates, with regard to the iron and sulphur therein, by subjecting the ore or concentrate to lixiviation with an aqueous solution of cupric chloride at a temperature above 50.degree. C., preferably at a temperature between 70.degree. C. and 105.degree. C., and then regenerating said aqueous solution in situ at atmospheric pressure by means of air and a regeneration agent selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid and ferrous chloride. The invention also contemplates the preferable inclusion in the aqueous cupric chloride solution of an agent for solubilizing cuprous chloride selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal chloride, an alkaline earth metal chloride, ammonium chloride, and ferrous chloride.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for treating a nickel matte to recover essentially pure nickel comprising: treating an aqueous mixture of the matte with chlorine to produce a solid residue and an aqueous lixiviating solution having a pH value which is substantially nil or positive; treating the lixiviating solution to produce a solution containing primarily nickel chloride; and electrolyzing the solution to recover pure nickel at the cathode.

Abstract: A process for the production of substantially pure hydrated nickel sulphate which involves reacting sulphuric acid with nickel chloride at the boiling point of the reaction mixture and partially removing formed hydrogen chloride gas. The reaction mixture is clarified to separate impurities, the formed nickel sulphate is crystallized from the clarified mixture, and the mother-liquor obtained at this stage recycled to an earlier stage of the process. The crystals of nickel sulphate are dried and the mother-liquid obtained at this stage, then recycled to an earlier stage of the process. The hydrated nickel sulphate obtained is substantially pure and essentially free of chloride ions.

Abstract: A method of extracting constituent metal values from sea nodules containing copper, cobalt, iron and nickel is disclosed. The method involves melting the nodules under reducing conditions to obtain a concentrate containing said metals and reacting the metal concentrate in an aqueous medium with gaseous chlorine to obtain an aqueous solution containing the chlorides of said metal. Copper is thereafter precipitated from the aqueous solution and subsequently electrorefined, while the iron and cobalt are extracted from the aqueous solution by means of organic extractants and then re-extracted from the organic phases by aqueous phases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrometallurgical treatment process for extracting, in a pure (elemental) or other valuable (i.e. commercially usable) form, constituent metals from ferro-nickel, that is nickel, cobalt, iron and sometimes chromium.

Abstract: A method for selectively dissolving non-ferrous metals contained in pyritic ores by the steps of crushing the ores, introducing the crushed ore at a temperature above the ambient temperature into a reaction vessel containing a solution of chlorides of a metal having two valance states, and injecting gaseous chlorine into the reaction vessel at a rate such that the oxido-reduction potential of the solution of chlorides remains between 400 and 700 mv during the operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reclaiming nickel values from a nickeliferous alloy in which the nickeliferous alloy is subjected to nitric lixiviation and the nickel values are recovered from the resulting nickel nitrate solution.