Abstract: Boron and calcium are removed from brines with use of a mixture of from about 0.8 to 15 volume percent of an .alpha.-hydroxy oxime extractant having the general formula: ##STR1## where R and R' are hydrocarbon radicals and R" is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical, from 0 to 10 volume percent of a 7 to 12 carbon alcohol, balance diluent.

Abstract: Improvements are made in the process wherein Li.sup.+ values are recovered from dilute aqueous solution by the use of an anion exchange resin composite containing crystalline LiX.2Al(OH).sub.3, where X is halide. The improvements derive from enriching the Li.sup.+ containing solution with a non-competing metal salt (e.g., NaCl) prior to the Li.sup.+ removal, thereby achieving higher Li.sup.+ loading of the resin composite and obtaining more concentrated eluates.

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: A process for recovering lithium from sea water in which sea water is repeatedly concentrated at specific gravities between 1.13 and 1.24 to thereby separate salts including common salt from the concentrate, removing the salts which separate from the concentrate, diluting the final concentrate so obtained with water, subjecting the diluted concentrate containing lithium and magnesium to a resin exchange treatment in which lithium and magnesium are absorbed on the resin, and treating the resin with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution to elute lithium from said resin.

Abstract: Magnesium values are selectively recovered from salt brines, even salt brines which contain competing ions such as Li.sup.+, Ca.sup.++, and Sr.sup.++, by contacting the brine with an anion exchange resin which has dispersed therein a microcrystalline structure of the formula MgX.sub.2.2Al(OH).sub.3, where X is a halide.

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 novel method of reducing metal impurities in aqueous alkali metal halide solutions, especially alkaline earth metal ions, and to novel organic solvent compositions having a synergistic activity for removal of metal impruties from aqueous solutions.

Abstract: Magnesium values are selectively recovered from salt brines, even salt brines which contain competing ions such as Li.sup.+, Ca.sup.++, and Sr.sup.++, by contacting the brine with an anion exchange resin which has dispersed therein a microcrystalline structure of the formula MgX.sub.2.2Al(OH).sub.3, where X is a halide.

Abstract: Novel 2-hydroxyiminoacetic acids of the formula ##STR1## where R is an aromatic hydrocarbyl group substituted with one or more aliphatic chains of at least four carbon atoms are excellent for the extraction of metal values from acidic metal - containing aqueous solutions, particularly for the separation of Cu from Fe, Ni from Co and Ca from Mg.

Abstract: In the electrolysis of an alkaline earth metal-containing alkali metal brine wherein the alkaline earth metals contained in the brine are removed, the brine is subjected to electrolysis, and the residual brine is concentrated and recycled for further electrolysis along with make-up fresh brine, the improvement which comprises contacting the alkaline earth metal-containing brine with a weakly acidic cation exchanger in the Na+ form, the exchanger comprising units of at least one of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, whereby the alkaline earth metals are adsorbed on the cation exchanger, and periodically regenerating the cation exchanger. The cation exchanger is regenerated by contact with a hydrochloric acid solution of about 5 to 10% concentration, the regenerating solution effluent from the column being combined with the redissoluted sodium sulphate which is precipitated during concentration of the cell liquor thereby to precipitate any sulphate contained in the brine as the alkaline earth metal sulphate.

Abstract: Process of extracting metals using organic solvent solutions of salts of hydrogen ion exchange agents and quaternary ammonium compounds. Organic solvent solutions of such quaternary ammonium salts of hydrogen ion exchange agents.

Abstract: Magnesium values are selectively extracted from aqueous solutions thereof also containing calcium using quaternary ammonium salts of selected hydrogen ion exchange reagents. Magnesium is stripped from the resulting organic phase with acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combined process for the manufacture of feed grade dicalcium phosphate and pure phosphoric acid. The process comprises the reaction of an excess of phosphate rock with aqueous solutions of a mineral acid selected from hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid, characterized by the fact that the free acidity of the dissolution liquor does not exceed 60% and that in the clear solution feed grade dicalcium phosphate is precipitated with calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate or mixtures thereof. The solids comprising the unattacked phosphate are decomposed with hydrochloric acid solutions, gases containing hydrogen chloride or mixtures thereof and the acidulate containing the phosphoric acid is extracted with an organic solvent selected from butanols, pentanols or mixtures thereof, the phosphoric acid-solvent extract is separated and washed, thus obtaining the pure phosphoric acid.

Abstract: Uranium values are obtained from phosphate rock by acidifying phosphate rock containing uranium values and at least one other heavy metal with a mineral acid so as to obtain a crude acid, solvent extracting the crude acid with an organic solvent so as to separate a raffinate from a relatively pure, wet process phosphoric acid and treating said raffinate with a base so as to raise the pH to 1-2 whereby uranium hydroxide or phosphate and other heavy metal hydroxides or phosphates are coprecipitated. The uranium content of the coprecipitate after drying is at least as high as 0.3% which is comparable to that of uranium ores of the highest quality.

Abstract: Minute amounts of boron present in naturally occuring brines found in oceans, inland seas, salt lake and the like are removed by treating the brine with a fluoride ion.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously obtaining separate enriched fractions of heavier and lighter isotopes from mixtures thereof with the use of an ion exchange resin column by passing a ligand body containing this isotope mixture through the column. The isotopes, as they are passed through the column, are present in the forms of ligand-containing coordination compounds having different valence states and are followed by an eluant and form a band which travels through the column, the front and rear portions of which are respectively enriched in one of the isotopes and depleted in the other.

Abstract: In conventional processes for separating metals by selective precipitation, the precipitate is frequently in an amorphous form, eg a slime, which is difficult to filter, wash and handle generally. In the present process mixed solutions and/or sols of the metals are mixed with a suitable soluble organic polymer to form a viscous mixture. The latter is formed into discrete entities, e.g. drops, which are contacted with a reagent which converts each drop to a gelled entity containing at least one of the metals as a precipitate.In one form of the process, the same chemical reagent also serves to dissolve the other metal present in the initial drops. The metals are then easily separated by separating the gelled drops from the reagent. In another form, the reagent includes two different chemical reagents which contact the drop simultaneously, one to precipitate one metal in the gelled drops and the other to dissolve the other metal.