Abstract: Alkoxylated compounds of formula I R((AO)nH)mHp  (I) wherein each AO group is independently an alkyleneoxy group selected from ethyleneoxy, 1,2-propyleneoxy, 1,2-butyleneoxy, and styryleneoxy groups; n is an integer of from 2 to 100; m is an integer of from 1 to the total number of —OH plus —NH hydrogens in the R group prior to alkoxylation; the sum of m plus p equals the number of —OH plus —NH hydrogens in the R group prior to alkoxylation; and the R group is a group selected from the following: N(CH2CH2O)3  (II); R1N(CH2CH2O)2 where R1 is a C1-C24 alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl group  (III); R1N+(CH2CH2O)3Y− where R1 has the above meaning and  (IV) Y− is an anion, preferably an inorganic anion such as a halogen anion, a hydrogen sulfate anion, one-half of a sulfate anion, or one-third of a phosphate ion; NCH2CH2N  (V); NCH2CH2NCH2CH2N  (VI); CH3C(CH2O)3  (VII); CH3CH2C(CH2O)3  (VIII);

Abstract: A low viscosity water insoluble extraction reagent composition according to the invention is comprised of: (a) an extractant selected from the group consisting of an aldoxime, a ketoxime, or a combination thereof; (b) an equilibrium modifier having a Brookfield viscosity of equal to or less than about 5 centapoise at 25° C. and a flash point equal to or greater than about 141° F. wherein the molar ratio of modifier to extractant is from about 0.05 to about 2.0 so as to provide a net copper transfer greater than that achieved in the absence of modifier. Such low viscosity extractants afford higher recoveries of copper, permit reduced equipment size such as smaller mixers and settlers and the use of reduced amounts of less overall organic inventory.

Abstract: Alkoxylated compounds of formula I

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper from a copper-containing aqueous acid leach solution containing nitrate ions, in which the leach solution is contacted with a solution of an oxime extractant in a water-immiscible organic solvent, which comprises utilizing at least one of the following process variants: I) using an oxime extractant in the organic solution consisting of oximes selected from the group consisting of at least one ketoxime, and a mixture of at least one ketoxime and at least one aldoxime wherein the ketoxime:aldoxime molar ratio is in the range of from 1:0 to about 1:1.2 II) wherein the organic solution does not contain any modifiers or kinetic additives for the oxime extractant; III) reducing the acidity of the acid leach solution to a pH in the range of from about 2.25 to about 3.1, preferably from 2.25 to 2.7, prior to contact with the organic solution; and IV) reducing the electromotive force in the leach solution to less than about 550 mV prior to contact with the organic solution.

Abstract: Copper is preferentially extracted from iron in an aqueous feedstock solution containing dissolved copper and iron values by contacting the feedstock solution with a water-immiscible organic solution comprised of a hydrocarbon solvent and a compound of the formula I wherein R5 is a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl group, a C2-22 linear or branched alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group, a C7-22 aralkyl group, a halogen, OH or —OR6 wherein R6 is a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl group, a C2-22 linear or branched alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group, a C7-22 aralkyl group; R1 is hydrogen, or a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group or a C7-22 aralkyl group; R2-R4 is hydrogen, halogen, a linear or branched C6-12 alkyl group, —OR6 wherein R6 is a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl group, a C2-22 linear or branched alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group, or a C7-22 aralkyl group to form an aqueous phase comprised of iron and an organic phase comprised of the hydrocarbon solvent and a cop

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper from an aqueous phase containing nitrate ions, in which the aqueous phase is contacted with a solution of an oxime extractant in a water-immiscible organic solvent, which comprises using at least one of the following process variants: I) reducing the acidity of the aqueous phase prior to contact with the organic solution; and II) reducing the electromotive force in the aqueous phase prior to contact with the organic solution.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or bisulfate salts are made by a process comprising the steps of: (1) forming a first mixture by contacting a quaternary ammonium halide with: (a) a water-insoluble organic solvent capable of forming a ternary azeotrope with water and hydrogen halide and (b) an amount of water and sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid sufficient to maintain the temperature of the first mixture in the range of from about 98° C. to about 105° C. when heated; (2) heating the first mixture to a temperature sufficient to separate a ternary azeotrope comprised of hydrogen halide, water and the water-insoluble organic solvent from the first mixture to form a second mixture comprised of water, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, the water-insoluble organic solvent and a quaternary ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or bisulfate salt.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or bisulfate salts are made by a process comprising the steps of: (1) forming a first mixture by contacting a quaternary ammonium halide with: (a) a water-insoluble organic solvent capable of forming a ternary azeotrope with water and hydrogen halide and (b) an amount of water and sulfuric add or phosphoric acid sufficient to maintain the temperature of the first mixture in the range of from about 98° C. to about 105° C. when heated; (2) heating the first mixture to a temperature sufficient to separate a ternary azeotrope comprised of hydrogen halide, water and the water-insoluble organic solvent from the first mixture to form a second mixture comprised of water, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, the water-insoluble organic solvent and a quaternary ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or bisulfate salt.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper from an aqueous phase containing nitrate ions, in which the aqueous phase is contacted with a solution of an oxime extractant in a water-immiscible organic solvent, which comprises using at least one of the following process variants:

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper from an aqueous phase containing nitrate ions, in which the aqueous phase is contacted with a solution of an oxime extractant in a water-immiscible organic solvent, which comprises using at least one of the following process variants: I) reducing the acidity of the aqueous phase prior to contact with the organic solution; and II) reducing the electromotive force in the aqueous phase prior to contact with the organic solution.

Abstract: Copper is preferentially extracted from iron in an aqueous feedstock solution containing dissolved copper and iron values by contacting the feedstock solution with a water-immiscible organic solution comprised of a hydrocarbon solvent and a compound of the formula I 1

Abstract: Alternative equilibrium modifiers for use with aldoxime extractants, such as hydroxyl aryl aldoxime extractants, employed in the process for extraction of metal values, particularly copper values, in the extraction from aqueous solutions, in which the extractant and modifiers are employed in an organic solvent phase, the solvent being a water insoluble, water immiscible hydrocarbon solvent, such as a kerosene.

Abstract: Novel modified and improved beta-diketones and their use in the extraction of copper from aqueous ammoniacal solutions containing copper values, resulting from commercial processes, including, but not limited to, leaching of copper containing ores, such as sulfidic ores, or concentrates resulting from flotation of such sulfidic ores. The novel diketones are those highly sterically hindered, which may be represented by the formula I or II: ##STR1## The preferred beta-diketones of Formula [II] are selected from the group consisting of neo-alkyl beta-diketones, such as, 1-phenyl-3-neoalkyl-1,3 propanedione in which the neoalkyl group is selected from neohexyl, neoheptyl, neooctyl, neononyl, or neodecyl.

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 making a sterically-hindered beta-diketone involving: (a) providing a solution comprising: (i) an ester; (ii) a base; and (iii) a solvent; (b) adding a ketone selected from the group consisting of an aromatic ketone and a hindered aliphatic ketone, to the solution, to form a condensation reaction mixture, whereby either the ester or the ketone is hindered; (c) reacting the solution with the ketone to form a sterically-hindered beta-diketone; and (d) recovering the sterically-hindered beta-diketone from the condensation reaction mixture.

Abstract: Improvement on the recovery of palladium from aqueous acidic solutions employing ketoximes, including novel ether oximes and palladium complexes, comprising contacting the aqueous acidic solution containing the palladium with an organic solvent containing the oxime to form two immiscible phases, separating the organic and aqueous acidic phases and stripping the palladium values from the organic phase using an aqueous ammonia solution. The organic phase may contain phase transfer agents and modifiers.

Abstract: The invention is a process and an apparatus for removing metal contamination from soil. In the method, the soil is treated to produce soil with a small particle size. The particulate soil is then separated into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction. The coarse fraction and the fine fraction are contacted with a leach solution in separate contacting zones to remove the metal contamination from the soil, the metal is removed from the leach solution and the leach solution recycled to the leaching zones.

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.

Abstract: The invention is a process and an apparatus for removing metal contamination from soil. In the method, the soil is treated to produce soil with a small particle size. The particulate soil is then separated into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction. The coarse fraction and the fine fraction are contacted with a leach solution in separate contacting zones to remove the metal contamination from the soil, the metal is removed from the leach solution and the leach solution recycled to the leaching zones.