Abstract: Methods for utilizing waste products of the steel industry are provided that utilize spent pickle liquor to recover valuable alkaline earth metals from low value wastes with significant calcium content in the form of insoluble oxide, hydroxides, and/or salts are provided, as well as methods for generating a ferric oxide hydroxide composite from steel slag. Suitable raw materials include slag from steel manufacturing and ash from various operations. Ferric oxide hydroxide composite materials described herein can be used for removal of sulfur and metals from contaminated materials. Accordingly, compositions and methods of the inventive concept introduce considerable value to low value waste materials that would otherwise be discarded. In addition, compositions and methods of the inventive concept serve to reduce waste streams from industrial processes.

Abstract: Weak acid lixiviants are used to selectively extract calcium from various sources (e.g., steel slag, impure lime, dolomite). Preferably, non-amine weak acids (e.g., weak acids that do not include an amine) as lixiviants are used. Such lixiviants can be used in stoichiometric quantities relative to calcium content of the calcium source material.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that remove calcium and/or magnesium from lithium-rich brines using industrial waste that includes calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide (such as steel slag). Surprisingly, calcium and magnesium can be selectively removed using such materials by controlling the ratio of lithium-rich brine to industrial waste. The contaminant-depleted brine so produced can be further purified and processed to generate lithium carbonate.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for carbonation curing of cement and/or concrete are provided, where a lixiviant species that solubilizes calcium from oxides and silicates provided with the cement or concrete is included in the curing cement or concrete mixture. Reaction of solubilized calcium with carbon dioxide results in the formation of insoluble calcium carbonate that is incorporated into the structure of the cured cement or concrete, and simultaneously regenerates the lixiviant species. Rapid reaction of carbon dioxide within the curing cement or concrete further generates a concentration gradient that accelerates uptake of additional carbon dioxide, for example from ambient air. This incorporation of environmental carbon also causes the cured cement or concrete to be used for long term carbon sequestration.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided that provide recovery of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, indium, and other metals are recovered from mine tailings, in situ ore bodies, or postconsumer waste. An amine-containing lixiviant is utilized to generate an aqueous solution of the desired metal from insoluble salts present in the source material. Metals can be recovered and further purified by various processes, including extraction into an immiscible organic solvent, electrowinning, crystallization, and chemical reduction. Spent lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled back into the metal recovery process.

Abstract: Systems for generating metal peroxides from metal-containing raw materials are provided. The raw material is initially treated with a lixiviant salt, generating a soluble metal salt and a lixiviant base. Subsequent application of a peroxide or a source of peroxide generates the metal peroxide and also regenerates the lixiviant salt. This regenerated lixiviant salt can be recycled for application to additional raw material. Both stepwise and continuous processes are described.

Abstract: A method for generating metal peroxides from metal-containing raw materials is provided. The raw material is initially treated with a lixiviant salt, generating a soluble metal salt and a lixiviant base. Subsequent application of a peroxide or a source of peroxide generates the metal peroxide and also regenerates the lixiviant salt. This regenerated lixiviant salt can be recycled for application to additional raw material. Both stepwise and continuous processes are described.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating waste water produced by copper mining operations are described herein. Slag from steel making operations and other industrial waste materials that include alkali metal and/or alkaline earth elements have been found to both raise pH of the waste water and also reduce arsenic content. Following such treatment the spent slag or industrial waste can be utilized as a source of valuable metals or incorporated into stabilized building materials.

Abstract: The invention provides an inexpensive and scalable means to isolate commercially valuable metals from low quality raw materials with minimal capital expenditures. Metals are extracted from sized raw material using a lixiviant, such as an amine-based lixiviant, in a pond extractor. The liquid fraction containing solvated metal is separated from the extracted raw materials and exposed to an inexpensive and readily available source of carbon dioxide, such as unmodified atmospheric air and/or a flue gas. This precipitates the metal as a carbonate salt and regenerates the lixiviant, which is returned to the extraction step of the process following separation from the metal carbonates. Metal carbonates can be dried by simply arranging in exposed heaps, and in some embodiments further processed by kiln drying. Such methods can also be used to capture and sequester greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for generating metal peroxides from metal-containing raw materials is provided. The raw material is initially treated with a lixiviant salt, generating a soluble metal salt and a lixiviant base. Subsequent application of a peroxide or a source of peroxide generates the metal peroxide and also regenerates the lixiviant salt. This regenerated lixiviant salt can be recycled for application to additional raw material. Both stepwise and continuous processes are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described in which spent pickle liquor from metal cleaning processes is utilized to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover valuable metals from industrial waste and other sources. The spent pickle liquor is neutralized and solvated metals in the spent pickle liquor are precipitated in this process. When the industrial waste is slag from a metal refining process a partially closed metal production process can be implemented, where spent pickle liquor from cleaning of the refined metal is used to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover a different, valuable metal from a waste slag of the process, with precipitated salts from the lixiviant regeneration being returned as a raw material in the metal refining process. As a result waste streams from these processes are dramatically reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Compositions for adjusting the pH of sea water to be useful in metal floatation processes are described, as are methods utilizing such compositions. Precipitation of insoluble magnesium salts interferes with pH adjustment of sea water when conventional sources of CaO and/or Ca(OH)2 are used, however addition of nonreactive particulates (such as waste materials from industrial processes) permits use of such low quality sources of CaO/Ca(OH)2 and reduces consumption of high quality CaO/Ca(OH)2 for this purpose.

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: Compositions and methods are provided that permit both recovery of at least two metals from industrial waste materials and control of the degree of relative recovery between the two metals. Industrial waste is initially treated with an acid and mixed for a defined period of time, and the extracted metals recovered from the resulting supernatant in subsequent steps. Surprisingly, the duration of this initial stirring period has been found to impact the relative degree of recovery of the two metals in a non-linear fashion.

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: Compositions and methods for treating waste water produced by copper mining operations are described herein. Slag from steel making operations and other industrial waste materials that include alkali metal and/or alkaline earth elements have been found to both raise pH of the waste water and also reduce arsenic content. Following such treatment the spent slag or industrial waste can be utilized as a source of valuable metals or incorporated into stabilized building materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides composites comprising an open cell foam and a small pore area material, methods for their preparation, articles of manufacture comprising them and methods for preparing the same.

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. Suitable lixiviant species include zwitterions, including zwitterion pairs that act as counterions to one another.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided that provide recovery of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, indium, and other metals are recovered from mine tailings, in situ ore bodies, or postconsumer waste. An amine-containing lixiviant is utilized to generate an aqueous solution of the desired metal from insoluble salts present in the source material. Metals can be recovered and further purified by various processes, including extraction into an immiscible organic solvent, electrowinning, crystallization, and chemical reduction. Spent lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled back into the metal recovery process.

Abstract: Hydrometallurgical compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants and organic amine-based pre-lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of rare earth elements. The lixiviant species can be regenerated in situ, permitting the organic amine to be used in substoichiometric amounts.