Abstract: Platinum, palladium and other precious metals are recovered from aqueous media containing precious metal ions in solution by contacting the metal-containing solution with a proteinaceous material selected from the group consisting of feathers, hair, hoof meal and horn meal to collect the metals in concentrated insoluble form, and recovering metal from the proteinaceous material.

Abstract: A liquid membrane process for removing ions from solution which comprises contacting a solution containing a first ion and a second ion with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an external phase which is immiscible with said solution and contains a first complexing agent, and a second complexing agent, said first complexing agent being capable of forming a first complex with said first ion, and said second complexing agent being capable of forming a second complex with said second ion, both of said complexes being soluble in said external phase, and an internal phase, which comprises a (1) decomplexing agent, said decomplexing agent being capable of converting said first complex into said first complexing agent and said first ion and (2) an inhibiting agent which is capable of inhibiting the formation of said first complex, whereby the first ion diffuses from said solution into said internal phase, and said second ion diffuses from said solution into said external phase.

Abstract: Metal values, such as iron, may be stripped from an organic liquid medium loaded with metal ions by a process which comprises contacting the organic medium with an aqueous phase at a contact temperature which is sufficiently high to cause the metal values to precipitate as metal oxide, hydroxide or hydrate (or a mixture thereof) in the presence of the organic medium.

Abstract: Solvent extraction of metallic mineral values from aqueous acidic solutions is improved by introducing a fine dispersion of air bubbles into the acid-extractant mixture to cause solid material normally occurring at the phase interface to float to the surface. This improved process is particularly applicable to the extraction of uranium from wet process phosphoric acid.

Abstract: A cobaltic oxide hydrate is mixed with spent sulfate electrolyte and the slurry is sparged with air to liberate any entrained chloride ions as gaseous chlorine. Thereafter a reducing agent is used to enable dissolution of the cobalt and obtaining of a chloride-free solution from which, after purification, cobalt can be electrowon.

Abstract: A process for transfer by extraction, of at least one species from a fluid phase to a first liquid phase receptive to such species, comprises intimately contacting the fluid phase with an emulsion of the first liquid phase in a second liquid phase which is permeable with respect to such species and substantially immiscible in the first liquid phase. The emulsion is stabilized by the second liquid phase containing at least one substantially insoluble particulate solid which is substantially non-reactive to constituents contained in each of such phases in an amount sufficient to form a stable emulsion. Transfer of the species is from the fluid phase through the second solids-containing liquid phase to the first liquid phase.In one embodiment, the first liquid phase is lean with respect to the species to be extracted. In another embodiment, mass action is utilized to maintain a driving force by counter-transport of a different ion.

Abstract: Ferric iron is removed from an aqueous chloride solution containing other cations by extracting ferric iron with a liquid organic extractant comprising a ketone having less than about eight carbon atoms for a sufficient period of time to extract ferric iron into the organic liquid extractant. The organic liquid extractant is separated from the aqueous chloride solution containing other cations and the ferric iron is stripped from the organic liquid.

Abstract: The present process involves an improvement in the hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from metal bearing sources such as ores and the like. The desired metal values are recovered by subjecting a metal bearing source to a reductive roast in a reducing atmosphere after having treated said source with at least one additive. Following the reductive roast the reduced metal bearing source is cooled and extracted by a leaching operation. The separation of various metal values in the metal bearing source may be effected by adding a solid adsorbent to the leach solution whereby selective metal ions are adsorbed thereon. The improvement in the present process comprises pretreating the solid adsorbent prior to use thereof with an acid thereby increasing the loading capacity of the metal ions in the adsorbents as well as kinetics of metal adsorption.

Abstract: Metal values of ferromanganese nodules harvested from ocean floors are placed in aqueous solution suitable for partition as by selective extraction with chelating agents by treating the nodules with aqueous solutions which contain oxalic acid or mixture of oxalic acid with a strong acid. These unique reagents may be used alone or in combination with other reducing, complexing or acidic treating agents.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for recovering nickel (II), copper (II) and cobalt (II) from an ammoniacal-ammonium sulfate leach liquor. This process includes the step of adjusting the pH of the leach liquor prior to co-extracting the nickel and the copper values. Cobalt is recovered as cobalt (II) by reduction of cobalt (III) to cobalt (II) following by an extraction step.

Abstract: The efficiency of an extraction process using a dialkyl phosphoric acid as an active extractant for separating extractable soluble metallic values from an aqueous solution is improved by the presence of a sufficient amount of a dialkyl naphthalene sulphonic acid as a modifier for the extractant.

Abstract: In uranium recovery by solvent extraction processes, uranium is separated from iron in an organic extract by stripping the extract with a dilute aqueous solution containing carbonate ions, hydroxyl ions, and ammonium or alkali metal ions. The iron precipitates during stripping as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.nH.sub.2 O which is filtered off. The uranium is then precipitated from the filtrate as UO.sub.3.2H.sub.2 O by steam stripping or as ammonium diuranate by lowering the pH to about 2 to decompose the carbonate then raising it with ammonia or ammonium hydroxide to about 7.

Abstract: Improved solvent-extractants for the selective recovery of metal values from acidic aqueous media comprise solutions of 5-alkylbenzotriazoles in water-immiscible organic solvents. Extraction efficiency is enhanced by addition to the solvent-extractant of alkyl aromatic sulfonic acids, alkyl phosphoric acids or carboxylic acids. Especially important applications for the improved solvent-extractants are in the recovery of copper (II) from cobalt (II), copper (II) from nickel (II), copper (II) from iron (III), copper (II) from zinc (II), nickel (II) from cobalt (II), nickel (II) from zinc (II), nickel (II) from iron (III), iron (III) from magnesium (II), and cobalt (II) from zinc (II).

Abstract: An extractant system comprising (a) a high molecular weight alkylaromatic sulfonic acid and (b) a chelating amine having a pKa of from about 3 to about 9 in a solvent which is essentially immiscible with water, said system being useful for the selective extraction of desired metals, e.g., cobalt, nickel or copper ions from aqueous acidic ore leach liquors.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a method for improving the acid leachability of aluminum and other metal values found in fly ash which comprises sintering the fly ash, prior to acid leaching, with a calcium sulfate-containing composition at a temperature at which the calcium sulfate is retained in said composition during sintering and for a time sufficient to quantitatively convert the aluminum in said fly ash into an acid-leachable form.

Abstract: Certain sulfonamidothiadiazoles, metal complexes thereof and solutions of said compounds in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvents are disclosed. The sulfonamidothiadiazoles have the general structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R and A are as defined in the specification and claims hereof. Particular metal values are recovered from their aqueous solutions by using sulfonamidothiadiazoles dissolved in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvents. The extraction process involves contacting the metal value containing aqueous solution with the solution of the sulfonamidothiadiazole in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvent and stripping the metal from the loaded organic phase.

Abstract: Dioxime extractants having the following general formula: ##STR1## where R and R' may be any of a variety of organic hydrocarbon radicals such as aliphatic, alkyl and aryl radicals. R and R' may also be hydrogen. Preferably R is an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 3 to 20 carbon atoms and R' is hydrogen or an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Preferably, there is a difference of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms between R and R' resulting in dissymmetry of the resulting dioxime molecule. Preferably, the dioximes also contain a total of about 5 to 32 carbon atoms. Representative compounds are methyl octyl dioxime and methyl hexyl dioxime.Organic preparations containing such dioximes are useful for the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalt metal values from acid or basic aqueous solution.

Abstract: An acid solution containing cobalt and nickel is contacted with an organic extraction medium comprising alkyl phosphonic acid mono alkyl ester where said alkyl group has 8-10 carbon atoms in two or more stages, wherein the contact at a first stage is carried out at a pH value not exceeding 5.0 and at a second and further stages being carried out at a pH range of 5.5-7.0. Thereby cobalt may effectively and selectively be extracted into the organic extraction medium from the solution without excess rise in viscosity. Cobalt and nickel may be separately recovered with high purity.

Abstract: A method for processing a hydroxide sludge residue to separate and recover the nonferrous metal values therefrom including the steps of(1) concentrating the residue and acidifying and heating the concentrated residue to produce a solution containing the nonferrous metal values;(2) removing the copper from the solution by liquid-liquid extraction;(3) separating the chromium, aluminum, residual portions of iron, as well as the remaining calcium from the copper-free solution by high temperature pressure hydrolysis to obtain the metals as the hydrated oxides or basic sulfates;(4) removing zinc and nickel from the remaining solution by liquid-liquid extraction;(5) processing the individual nonferrous metal fractions to isolate and recover the metal values in a conventional manner.By using this process, the nonferrous metal values can be easily separated in a relatively high state of purity from the hydroxide sludge wastes.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a process for selectively separating and recovering cobalt by liquid-liquid extraction from an aqueous solution containing cobalt such as those obtained by leaching a cobalt-containing ore with an acid by utilizing an organic solvent containing an alkyl ester of alkylphosphonic acid as the extractant.

Abstract: Certain sulfonamidophenols, metal complexes thereof and solutions of said compounds in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvents are disclosed. The sulfonamidophenols have the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are as defined in the specification and claims hereof. Particular metal values are recovered from their aqueous solutions by using sulfonamidophenols dissolved in essentially water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon solvents. The extraction process involves contacting the metal value containing aqueous solution with the solution of sulfonamidophenol in essentially water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon solvent and stripping the metal values from the loaded organic phase.

Abstract: A process for recovering heavy metal ions or heavy metal ions and halogen values from a solution comprising a lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, which comprises the steps of:(1) contacting a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid solution containing heavy metal ions or heavy metal ions and halogen values with an anion exchange resin, at least 60% of the ion-exchange groups of said anion exchange resin being in the bromide or chloride state, while the water concentration in the lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid solution has been adjusted to a level lower than 20% by weight, thereby to adsorb the heavy metal ions or the heavy metal ions and the halogen values on the anion exchange resin; and(2) desorbing the adsorbed heavy metal ions or the adsorbed heavy metal ions and the adsorbed halogen values from the anion exchange resin by elution with an eluent.

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: Certain sulfonylthiosemicarbazides, metal complexes thereof and solutions of said compounds in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvents are disclosed. The sulfonylthiosemicarbazides have the general structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R.sup.1 are as defined in the specification and claims hereof. Particular metal values are recovered from their aqueous solutions by using sulfonylthiosemicarbazides dissolved in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvents. The extraction process involves contacting the metal value containing aqueous solution with the solution of the sulfonylthiosemicarbazide in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvent and stripping the metal from the loaded organic phase.

Abstract: A process is described for the selective recovery of nickel values from an aqueous solution containing nickel values by means of liquid/liquid extraction, wherein the aqueous solution is contacted with an organic extractant comprising a substantially water-immisicible organic solvent and one or more of certain alpha,beta-dioxime compounds. Novel alpha, beta-dioxime compounds for use in the extraction process are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for extracting at least one of the trivalent ions Fe and Al from an acid solution. The method comprises uniformly mixing the acid solution with a liquid organic extractant comprising an organophosphorus compound and an alkylaromatic sulfonic acid dissolved in a water-immiscible organic solvent, the extractant being selective to the solvent extraction of said trivalent ions under acidic conditions. The molar ratio of the sulfonic acid to the organophosphorus compound is controlled over a range of about 1:4 to 10:1 and the mixing carried out for a time sufficient to effect solvent extraction of said trivalent ions and provide a raffinate substantially impoverished in said trivalent ions and a loaded extractant containing said trivalent ions, following which the loaded extractant is separated from the raffinate.

Abstract: A process for extracting metal values from aqueous solutions of metal salts which comprises the steps of contacting the aqueous solution with a solution in a water-immiscible organic solvent of one or more o-hydroxyaryloximes containing at least 3 aliphatic or alicyclic carbon atoms and which are strong metal extractants and one or more alkylphenols optionally containing one chlorine atom or one cyano group, separating from the aqueous phase the solvent phase containing metal in the form of a complex with the o-hydroxyaryloxime contacting the solvent phase with an aqueous mineral acid, and separating the solvent phase from the aqueous phase containing metal in the form of a salt with the mineral acid.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction process is disclosed, in which an aqueous solution, containing metal ions, is contacted with an organic liquid substantially insoluble in water. The organic liquid contains two water-insoluble reagents, viz. a diester of dithiophosphoric acid and an organic phosphate, in a preferred volume ratio of between 1:10 and 2:1. The organic liquid may also contain a diluent for the reagents.

Abstract: A system of multiple extraction in which each of the metal elements extracted is bonded to the extractant with a different degree of intensity. To reduce impurities in each metal recovery stage, a bleed stream from each recovery stage is cascaded backwards. In general, the backward cascade disposes of the bleed stream from the most tightly bonded species by recycling it to any preceeding stage of a less tightly bonded species.An example of a process for recovering copper and nickel from an aqueous leach solution containing these values is given. In this type of process, ammonia, copper and nickel are first coextracted onto an organic extractant (oxime). Ammonia is stripped first. In a nickel recovery circuit, nickel values are selectively stripped from the oxime with acid, pure nickel is electrowon, and the acidic, nickel-barren raffinate from the electrowinning cell is recirculated.

Abstract: Aqueous nickel chloride solutions containing such impurities as copper, iron, and zinc, and optionally, cobalt, and having an acid concentration ranging from about 0.2 N to 4 N HCl together with a total chloride concentration of about 4 N to 11 N are purified of said impurities by solvent extraction with an organic extractant of essentially tributyl phosphate (TBP) dissolved in a water-immiscible organic solvent, the solvent extraction being carried out at a selected concentration of TBP and a selected volume ratio of organic to the aqueous solution effective to produce a nickel raffinate substantially impoverished in said impurities.

Abstract: Nickeliferous sulfidic materials containing at least one other metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, copper and iron are leached with an at least 3 N hydrochloric acid solution to produce a pregnant nickel chloride solution. The pregnant nickel chloride solution is treated with a liquid organic extractant to extract the other metals. The nickel chloride raffinate is concentrated with respect to nickel chloride, and the concentrated nickel chloride solution is heated to at least about 750.degree. C. to hydrolyze the nickel chloride to a refined nickel oxide product and a hydrogen chloride-containing gaseous effluent which is recycled to the concentration step and then through water to regenerate the leaching solution.

Abstract: A method for producing extra fine cobalt metal powder (up to 1.7 FSSS) by the digestion of cobalt pentammine chloride in a dilute ammonium hydroxide solution to form a cobalt-containing precipitate, followed by reducing the precipitate in a hydrogen atmosphere to cobalt metal powder, is improved by: (a) treating the mother liquor with an ion exchange resin to remove cobalt species; (b) stripping the resin with an HCl solution; (c) recovering solid cobalt hexammine chloride from the stripping solution; (d) forming a solution of the solid in water; (e) adding NaOH to the solution to form a cobalt-containing precipitate; and (f) either heating the precipitate in hydrogen to reduce it to cobalt metal powder or recycling the precipitate as a cobalt source for the formation of cobalt pentammine chloride. The final cobalt metal powder is useful, for example, as a starting material in the manufacture of cemented carbides.

Abstract: This invention relates to the refining of metals containing cobalt and nickel by solvent extraction.In particular the invention relates to a process for the separation of cobalt and nickel by solvent extraction comprising contacting an aqueous solution containing cobalt and nickel ions with an organic phase containing an ester of phosphoric acid in which the temperature and concentration of cobalt in the organic phase enable substantially all of the cobalt present in that phase to convert to a tetrahedral configuration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recovery of waste H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HCl which are used for pickling metallic materials and articles and contain a large quantities of Fe ions. Furthermore, it offers a process for the recovery of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HCl from waste H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 which contains large amounts of Fe ions after removal of Ti ions by a hydrolysis process in the production of TiO.sub.2 and also for the recovery of high-purity electrolytic iron or iron hydroxide.

Abstract: Multivalent heavy metal ions are removed from metal plating waste streams by passing them through an unexpanded vermiculite cation exchange column. The column is effective to remove copper, zinc, and nickel ions and mixtures thereof. Where cyanide and cyanide-metal complexes are also present in the plating waste stream, the stream is pretreated to destroy the cyanide and cyanide complexes prior to passage through the ion exchange column.

Abstract: 7-Ethyl-undeca-2,4-dione as a chelation collector for the liquid-liquid extraction of transition metals from dilute ammoniacal leach solutions thereof exhibits the combination of requisite physical and dynamic properties marking an industrially attractive reagent for this purpose.

Abstract: The invention relates to the re-extraction of a metal from an organic extraction solution in which the metal is present as a metal chloride complex bonded to an extractant. The organic extraction solution is contacted with an aqueous solution, to transfer metal ions and chloride ions to the aqueous solution. Sulphuric acid is added to the aqueous solution, which is subsequently heated to drive off hydrogen chloride and water. Metal sulphate is removed from the acidified aqueous solution.

Abstract: Heavy metal values are recovered from mother liquors remaining from oxidations to mono- or poly- carboxylic acids in aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in presence of catalyst heavy metals and bromides by (1) concentrating, (2) precipitating and (3) separating heavy metals as sulphates and (4) recovering aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and H Br by distillation, (5) dissolving sulphates in water, (6) adsorbing heavy metals on a cation exchange resin and (7) desorbing them, preferably with the solution from Step 4.

Abstract: Process for extraction and separation of metals utilizing the advantages of liquid-liquid extraction with cation exchangers without requiring the equivalent addition of alkali. The process is based on a combination of leaching the metal-containing raw materials with an organic acid (cation exchanger) and a subsequent use of the formed metal cationic complex in a liquid-liquid extraction process. In the said extraction process, the organic solution of metal complexes is used to recover and separate metal ions from an aqueous solution of metal salts.

Abstract: Solvent-extraction processes to recover metal values are improved by use as a component of the solvent-extractant of didodecylnaphthalene sulfonic acid. Especially important applications for the improved solvent-extractant which can include a .alpha.-hydroxy oxime are in the separation recovery of copper, nickel, zinc and cobalt and the selective separation of these metals, one from the other, and from iron, in acidic aqueous media.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for recovering gallium from calcined clay leached with hydrochloric acid. The leach solution containing aluminum, ferric and gallium chlorides is treated by ion exchange to first remove aluminum ions, following which the solution containing ferric and gallium chlorides is treated to reduce the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The reduced solution is acidified with hydrochloric acid sufficiently to insure that the gallium is present in the form GaCl.sub.4 - ions, and is then again treated by ion exchange to separate the ferrous ions from the gallium for ultimate recovery of the latter.

Abstract: Nickel and cobalt are separated from aqueous process solutions having pH values below about 4 and containing other metal ions by contacting the process solutions with liquid organic extractants containing a mixture of .alpha.-hydroxyoximes and sulfonic acids dissolved in water-immiscible organic solvents.

Abstract: An extraction process is described for the selective separation of bivalent metal ions belonging to the group Cu, Co, Ni and Zn in aqueous solution of Cu- and Ni-ions, Cu- and Zn-ions or Cu- and Co-ions, wherein there is used as the extraction medium one or more unsaturated fatty acids, optionally in solution and/or in admixture with saturated fatty acids and an aliphatic oxime.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for obtaining a more concentrated solution of components such as chromium containing anions by the use of ion exchange beds. A solution containing the component to be concentrated is passed through a first bed in which the component is taken up. A second solution containing a component of opposite charge from the first component is passed through the first bed to take up the component from the first bed and then through a second bed capable of taking up the second component from the solution. The second solution is passed from the first bed directly to and through the second bed, and both beds are rinsed following passage of the second solution therethrough by passing a rinse solution through the second bed and then directly to and through the first bed in a direction opposite to the direction in which said second solution passed through the beds.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recovery of waste H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HCl which are used for pickling metallic materials and articles and contain a large quantities of Fe ions. Furthermore, it offers a process for the recovery of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HCl from waste H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 which contains large amounts of Fe ions after removal of Ti ions by a hydrolysis process in the production of TiO.sub.2 and also for the recovery of high-purity electrolytic iron or iron hydroxide.

Abstract: New .beta.-diketones of the structure ##STR1## where R is phenyl or alkyl substituted phenyl, R' is alkyl, alkyl substituted phenyl or chloro substituted phenyl and R" is H or --CN with the provisos that; (1) when R is phenyl, R' is a branched chain alkyl group of at least seven carbon atoms and (2) when R is alkyl substituted phenyl, the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent or substituents is at least 7 and at least one such alkyl substituent is branched chain. Process of recovering copper and nickel from their aqueous solutions by the use of the new .beta.-diketones.

Abstract: A heavy metal ion adsorbent represented by the following general formula: ##STR1##wherein l, m, and n are 2 or 3, respectively; R is an alkyl group containing 4 to 6 carbon atoms which is substituted by an amino group in the .omega.-position; and A is hydrogen or a synthetic resin.

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 selective separation of ferric iron from an aluminum fluoride aqueous solution containing ferric iron is effected by contacting said solution with an organic extractant phase consisting essentially of a mixture of a mono (higher alkyl-substituted phenyl) phosphoric acid and a di(higher alkyl-substituted phenyl) phosphoric acid dissolved in an inert diluent to thereby transfer the ferric iron to said organic extractant phase. The efficiency of the process is further improved by adjusting the aluminum fluoride aqueous feed solution to a temperature in the range of about 140.degree. F. to about 175.degree. F. prior to contacting it with the organic extractant phase, maintaining the temperature within this range throughout the ferric iron extraction stage or stages, then heating the resulting iron-depleted aqueous raffinate to a temperature higher than 195.degree. F., and then crystallizing aluminum fluoride trihydrate out of the raffinate at this higher temperature.

Abstract: An improved process is described for producing titanium dioxide from ilmenite-type ore. The ore is digested with aqueous hydrogen fluoride, the resulting liquid mixture treated with a water-soluble oxidizing agent, and the ferric iron impurities, in the resulting digestion solution, at a pH between about 1.0 and 6.0, are extracted out with a mono-or dialkyl, or mono- or di-(alkylphenyl) orthophosphoric acid, such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) orthophosphoric acid. The remaining solution is treated with ammonium hydroxide to precipitate hydrated titanium dioxide which is then calcined to form pigmentary titanium dioxide. Alkali metal and ammonium salts of the organophosphoric acid are also useful in the process.