Abstract: An electrical connector consists of a connector housing (10) and at least one electrical contact element (1). The connector housing (10) and/or the electrical contact element (1) have a lead content of <0.1 weight percent. A method for manufacturing a contact element from a blank which has a lead content of <0.1 weight percent, uses the following method steps: Loading the blank into a manufacturing machine; producing a pin region or a socket region for electrically contacting another, opposite contact element; producing a fixing region for fixing the contact element in an insulating body; producing a crimp region for electrically connecting a conductor to the contact element or finishing the crimp region if the blank has already been previously prepared on a different machine; and removing the finished contact element from the manufacturing machine.

Abstract: A recovery method of nickel according to the present invention comprises pretreatment step to prepare a solution for electrolysis by adding hexanesulfonate salt to a treatment solution including nickel, and nickel recovery step to recover nickel in a metal form by electrolysis of the above solution for electrolysis. The present invention can produce nickel in high purity with simple process with low cost, and can recover and reproduce nickel in a metal form with at least 99.5% of high purity and at least 90% of recovery rate.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is anode reduced without the use of a reducing gas by applying a voltage to the cell when the temperature is elevated to a target temperature.

Abstract: An electrolytic extraction method wins a target element from an oxide feedstock compound thereof. The feedstock compound is dissolved in an oxide melt in contact with a cathode and an anode in an electrolytic cell. During electrolysis the target element is deposited at a liquid cathode and coalesces therewith. Oxygen is evolved on an anode bearing a solid oxide layer, in contact with the oxide melt, over a metallic anode substrate.

Abstract: In various aspects, the invention provides processes that use relatively low levels of acid to leach lean nickel ores, including processes that provide relatively high levels of extraction of nickel and cobalt from nickel laterite ores, in conjunction with relatively low levels of iron extraction.

Abstract: In a method for producing metal powder, the first part of an acid-containing starting solution is fed on the anode side of an electrolytic cell as anolyte, to contact the anode and supply material containing yield metal, and a second part of the acid-containing starting solution, which also contains intermediary metal, is fed on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell, to contact the cathode as catholyte. Yield metal is oxidized and dissolved in the anolyte by leading electric current in the anode. The yield metal contained in the second part of the starting solution is reduced on the cathode side. Anolyte solution and catholyte solution are fed to a precipitating chamber for mixing the dissolved, oxidized yield metal and the second part of the starting solution containing reduced intermediary metal.

Abstract: A method is provided for extracting nickel values from nickel-containing ores. The method comprises (a) treating a nickel-containing ore with an acid, thereby producing an acid treated ore; (b) baking the acid treated ore, thereby producing a baked ore; (c) leaching nickel from the baked ore to form a leachate; and (d) extracting nickel values from the leachate through the use of an ion exchange resin.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are disclosed for electrowinning metal from a fluid stream. A representative apparatus comprises at least one spouted bed reactor wherein each said reactor includes an anolyte chamber comprising an anode and configured for containing an anolyte, a catholyte chamber comprising a current collector and configured for containing a particulate cathode bed and a flowing stream of an electrically conductive metal-containing fluid, and a membrane separating said anolyte chamber and said catholyte chamber, an inlet for an electrically conductive metal-containing fluid stream; and a particle bed churning device configured for spouting particle bed particles in the catholyte chamber independently of the flow of said metal-containing fluid stream. In operation, reduced heavy metals or their oxides are recovered from the cathode particles.

Abstract: There is provided a substantially permanent stainless steel cathode plate suitable for use in electrorefining of metal cathodes, the cathode being composed of a low-nickel duplex steel or a lower grade “304” steel, wherein operational adherence of an electrodeposition thereon is enabled by altering various qualities of the cathode surface. There is also provided a method of producing the above duplex or Grade 304 cathode plates, such that the desired operational adherence of the deposit upon the plate is not so strong as to prevent the deposit being removed during subsequent handling.

Abstract: An electrolytic extraction method wins a target element from an oxide feedstock compound thereof. The feedstock compound is dissolved in an oxide melt in contact with a cathode and an anode in an electrolytic cell. During electrolysis the target element is deposited at a liquid cathode and coalesces therewith. Oxygen is evolved on an anode bearing a solid oxide layer, in contact with the oxide melt, over a metallic anode substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing a metallic nickel product with a low iron content, that includes: (i) providing an acidic product liquor; (ii) subjecting the acidic product liquor to an ion exchange process to absorb the nickel and part of the iron; (iii) eluting the nickel and iron to produce an eluate containing the nickel and iron. (iv) neutralising the eluate to leave an iron depleted eluate; (v) neutralising the iron depleted eluate to cause precipitation of nickel hydroxide containing low iron; (vi) calcining the nickel hydroxide to convert it to nickel oxide; (vii) subjecting the nickel oxide to direct smelting in the presence of a reductant to produce a molten nickel phase; and (viii) refining the molten nickel phase by oxidation to produce a metallic nickel product with low iron content.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical resin-in-leach (RIL) process for directly recovering nickel and/or cobalt. Simultaneous pulp leaching by adding an acid or base, dissolves the metals of interest with adsorption of the metals rendered soluble in on ionic exchange resin. Following elution of the changed resin, purification of nickel and cobalt present in the eluate can be recovered by conventional methods, such as precipitation, extraction by solvents and membranes. The regenerated resin is recirculated for further use.

Abstract: A method of winning a metal from its oxide ore by heating the ore in a partial vacuum or under an inert atmosphere in the presence of a reductant. The resulting product may be further reduced electrochemically to produce a purer metal.

Abstract: A cell (100) for metal electrowinning from metal ion solutions is described, wherein the cathode (1) consists of a falling bed of growing beads; the beads, withdrawn from the lower part of the bed, are recycled to the top section of the cathodic compartment by means of an external vertical duct (3).

Abstract: It is herein described an electrowinning cell with a spouted bed electrode of growing metallic beads, separated by a semi-permeable diaphragm and suitable for being assembled in a stack in a modular arrangement.

Abstract: A system for producing metal particles using a discrete particle electrolyzer cathode, a discrete particle electrolyzer cathode, and methods for manufacturing the cathode. The cathode has a plurality of active zones on a surface thereof at least partially immersed in a reaction solution. The active zones are spaced from one another by between about 0.1 mm and about 10 mm, and each has a surface area no less than about 0.02 square mm. The cathode is spaced from an anode also at least partially immersed in the reaction solution. A voltage potential is applied between the anode and cathode. Metal particles form on the active zones of the cathode. The particles may be dislodged from the cathode after they have achieved a desired size. The geometry and composition of the active zones are specified to promote the growth of high quality particles suitable for use in metal/air fuel cells. Cathodes may be formed from bundled wire, machined metal, chemical etching, or chemical vapor deposition techniques.

Abstract: Upon performing electrolysis with a solution containing nickel as the electrolytic solution, anolyte is adjusted to pH 2 to 5; impurities such as iron, cobalt and copper contained in the anolyte are eliminated by combining any one or two or more of the methods among adding an oxidizing agent and precipitating and eliminating the impurities as hydroxide, eliminating the impurities through preliminary electrolysis, or adding Ni foil and eliminating the impurities through displacement reaction; impurities are thereafter further eliminated with a filter; and the impurity-free solution is employed as catholyte to perform the electrolysis. The present invention relates to a simple method of performing electrolytic refining employing a solution containing nickel from nickel raw material containing a substantial amount of impurities, and provides technology on efficiently manufacturing high purity nickel having a purity of 5N (99.999 wt %) or more.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for protecting electrowinning anodes having electrocatalytically active coatings in a bank of electrolytic cells from being damaged by reverse currents. In the first embodiment, one or more auxiliary power sources are provided that, when triggered by one or more predetermined conditions being met, keep the bank of electrolytic cells in an electrical state that is relatively harmless to the anodes having electrocatalytically active coatings. In a second embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of maintaining the polarization of anodes in an electrowinning cell positive of the cathodes (i.e. in a potential region where the anode coating is not susceptible to significant damage). In a final embodiment, the invention is directed to various methods for the installation of replacement anodes and maintenance of electrowinning cells.

Abstract: An Ni—Fe alloy material suitable for forming a ferromagnetic Ni—Fe alloy thin film is provided. The magnetic thin film produces a small number of particles during sputtering, and excels in corrosion resistance and magnetic properties. A method of manufacturing an Ni—Fe alloy sputtering target used to make the thin film is also provided. In addition, an Ni—Fe alloy sputtering target for forming magnetic thin films is provided. The sputtering target is characterized in that it has: an oxygen content of 50 ppm or less; an S content of 10 ppm or less; a carbon content of 50 ppm or less, and a total content of metal impurities other than the alloy components of 50 ppm or less. Such an Ni—Fe alloy target can be produced by melting and alloying high-purity materials obtained by dissolving the raw materials in hydrochloric acid, and performing ion exchange, activated-charcoal treatment, and electrolytic refining.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt values from a sulfidic flotation concentrate. The process involves forming a slurry of the sulfidic flotation concentrate in an acid solution, and subjecting the slurried flotation concentrate to a chlorine leach at atmospheric pressure followed by an oxidative pressure leach. After liquid-solids separation and purification of the concentrate resulting in the removal of copper and cobalt, the nickel-containing solution is directly treated by electrowinning to recover nickel cathode therefrom.

Abstract: A bio-leaching method is provided for recovering metal from a metal containing ore. The ore is subjected to contact with a microorganism selective to the oxidation of sulfur. A sulfur containing compound is mixed with the microorganism before, during or after contact with the ore to systemically form sulfuric acid to leach the metal from the ore. The ore is in the form of a slurry, a heap, a charge in a vat and is bioleached for a time sufficient to dissolve the metal in the ore and form a metal-rich leachate and an ore residue. The metal can then be extracted from the metal-rich leachate. The metal containing ore may contain base metals, precious metals, or platinum group metals. Upon formation of the metal-rich leachate, the ore residue may be further processed to recover any precious metals or platinum group metals that may be present.

Abstract: Invention relates to a method for the removal of sulfur from the leaching cycle of nickel processes such as leaching of nickel matte. According to the method, anolyte generated in nickel electrowinning is neutralized with the aid of a calcium-based neutralizing agents, wherein sulfur is removed from the leaching cycle as gypsum.

Abstract: A coated composite electrode for supporting an anodic electrochemical reaction includes a substrate composed of an electrically conductive metal and a mixture composed of lead and manganese oxides of between about 70 and 90 weight percent and of binders and extenders together being of between about 10 and 30 weight percent. The mixture is in the form of a coating on the substrate which constitutes a site of electrochemical oxidation. The coating is pressed above about 1500 psi pressure and at a temperature within the range of about 25 to 230 degrees C. The composite electrode provides corrosion inhibition for the lead alloy and improved current efficiency in systems with iron, such as copper electrowinning.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and processing system for removing both anionic and cationic technetium complexes from an aqueous solution by adjusting the pH of the solution to greater than approximately 2, and directing the solution into an integrated resin and electrochemical plating device. The integrated resin and plating device has a resin bed or resin membrane in which is disposed one or more cathodes, and one or more anodes. A potential generator produces at least a 1 volt potential between the cathodes and the anodes. As the solution passes through the resin, the technetium complexes are adsorbed onto it. When a sufficient concentration of technetium complexes is adsorbed, the plating process can atlernatively be driven to plate out the technetium onto the cathodes, or to collect various species in system anolytes/catholytes.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell comprising bipolar electrodes is employed for electrochemical deposition of copper, zinc, lead, nickel or cobalt. An interior space is provided between the cathode side and the anode side of a bipolar electrode. The electrolyte can flow substantially without an obstruction through the interelectrode space between adjacent electrodes. The current densities in the interelectrode space amount to 800 to 8000 A/m.sup.2. Gas is evolved on the anode side of the bipolar electrodes and causes liquid to flow along the anode side. In the middle of the height of the anode side that liquid flow has a vertical component having a velocity of 5 to 100 cm/second. Electrolyte solution flows from the upper edge portion of the anode side to a return flow space, in which the solution flows downwardly. From the return flow space the solution is returned to the lower portion of the interelectrode space.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided for removal of metals such as copper, lead, silver, tellurium, platinum, palladium or nickel from dilute solutions of the metal. The cell comprises a porous tubular support (18) which is provided with a cathode comprising a porous carbon fiber material (19), a current feeder (15) for the cathode, a tubular anode (12) spaced from said cathode, a current feeder (16) for the anode, the anode and the cathode being enclosed by a non-porous outer casing (11). In use the dilute solution from which the metal is to be removed is introduced into the cell through an inlet (13) and flows through the porous carbon fiber cathode to an outlet (14). The cell is useful for removing harmful metals from wastes so that they are environmentally acceptable for disposal and for recovery of valuable metals.