Abstract: An improved process for obtaining copper from a copper sulfide, in which: the copper sulfide is treated with oxygen and an aqueous leaching solution of ammonium carbonate, to form a leach liquor which contains ammonia complexes of copper sulfate and copper carbonate; the leach liquor is heated to form gaseous ammonia and carbon dioxide; the leach liquor is treated with a strongly alkaline material to precipitate sulfates and form additional gaseous ammonia; and the copper is then recovered by electrowinning. In this process, the ammonium carbonate leaching solution is formed from carbon dioxide that is generated by: adding a metal carbonate to the leach liquor during the heating thereof; and recovering the gaseous carbon dioxide, as well as the gaseous ammonia, formed during the heating of the leach liquor.

Abstract: This invention provides a two-stage leaching procedure for manganese nodules for obtaining directly from a second leaching stage a substantially pure stream of copper free of other metal values, the other metal values, including manganese, nickel and cobalt, having been previously extracted in an earlier leaching stage. Both leaching operations are carried out utilizing an ammoniacal aqueous solution on a reduced manganese nodule.

Abstract: Nickel, cobalt and manganese are recovered from deep sea nodules by leaching with sulfurous acid. In addition, selective extraction of nickel and cobalt from copper is achieved by suitable adjustment of process variables such as leaching time and volume and concentration of acid.

Abstract: This invention provides a two-stage leaching procedure for manganese nodules for obtaining directly in one leaching stage the metal values other than manganese in one ammoniacal aqueous solution. The manganese nodules are reduced and then leached initially utilizing a solution of an ammonium salt, e.g., ammonium sulfate, to selectively leach out the manganese value, followed by a second stage leaching with an ammoniacal solution, to leach out the nickel, cobalt and copper values. The nickel, cobalt and copper values can then be individually separated from the second leach solution by liquid ion exchange extraction.

Abstract: An electrosensitive recording sheet consists of an electroconductive material of cuprous iodide, an electrosensitive color forming material, a binder and a support. A color forms in the recording sheet in response to an electric signal when an electric current flows therein. The cuprous iodide is whitened by adding an alkaline substance thereto, so as to only slightly increase the resistance of the cuprous iodide and to increase the contrast of recorded mark and the ordinary appearance of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A process in which copper, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum are recovered by reducing comminuted raw manganese nodules with an aqueous solution containing cuprous ions. An improvement is disclosed in which copper is oxidized to provide a starting solution of cuprous ions for the process. In one important embodiment of the invention wet copper cement is added to a solution of carbon dioxide and ammonia and ground manganese nodules are then added to the mixture. As a result, a starting solution containing cuprous ions is produced. A major advantage gained from utilizing manganese nodules as an oxidizing agent is that the manganese nodule is itself reduced and its metal values are added to the reaction solution.

Abstract: A mixture of metal hydroxides is leached with an ammoniacal carbonate solution, to dissolve nickel, copper and zinc. Metal is recovered from the leaching solution. The solid leaching residue is leached with sulphuric acid at a pH of 1.5- 3, to dissolve a further amount of nickel, copper and zinc. The acidic leaching solution is passed to the ammoniacal leaching process.

Abstract: This invention provides a leaching procedure for manganese nodules for obtaining directly from a leaching stage all of the metal values, including manganese, utilizing an ammoniacal aqueous solution. The manganese nodules are reduced and then leached utilizing an ammoniated solution of an ammonium salt comprising at least about 150 grams per liter of ammonium ion and at least 0.83 Normal in the anion, other than hydroxyl. The resultant leach solution comprises the dissolved manganese, nickel, cobalt and copper values from the nodule ore, and can subsequently be treated, as by liquid ion exchange, to separate out the individual metal values.

Abstract: A process for extracting metal values from sea nodules is provided in which nickel, cobalt and copper values are selectively extracted by leaching raw sea nodules in an aqueous ammoniacal medium in the presence of a reducing agent for tetravalent manganese and carbonate to precipitate the reduced manganese as manganous carbonate.

Abstract: After the non-cobalt values are stripped from the co-loaded organic, the cobalt ions on the organic are reduced to the divalent state. The organic loaded with divalent cobalt ions is easily stripped with a dilute acid to render the organic recyclable.In another embodiment of the invention simultaneous reduction and "crowding" is utilized to strip cobalt from the organic. In this embodiment, a convenient source of both reductant Cu.sup.+ and of copper and/or nickel such as pregnant leach liquor is used to crowd the reduced cobalt from the organic.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for leaching broken or fragmented ore or metal-value containing bodies with a reagent-carrying foam. The foam is generated by adding a surfactant to a leaching solution and passing air or other gas through the solution to generate relatively stable foam bubbles which are propelled through the fragmented mass by gas pressure. The foam can be injected in cycles, allowing drain time, or can be injected continuously with the leachant drainage taking place at the periphery of the ore mass and removed continuously.

Abstract: Gold, as well as copper, is recovered from copper bearing sulphidic material containing gold. The copper bearing sulphidic material is subjected to a main leach to provide a copper containing main leach liquor and a main residue. A secondary leach with ammonium thiosulphate solution is carried out on the copper bearing sulphidic material before the main leach, or on the residue from the main leach, to provide a gold containing secondary leach liquor and a secondary residue. Copper and gold are recovered from the respective leach liquors. Silver may also be recovered in addition to the gold.

Abstract: In the hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from ores and the like in which a metal bearing source is reduced in the presence of at least one additive at temperatures ranging from about 500.degree. to about 900.degree. C. and thereafter extracted, the improvement of said process comprises pretreating a portion of process tails from a preceding run with the additive prior to the reducing roast. The additive which is used to pretreat the minor portion of the feed stock may comprise that which is recovered from the roaster offgas and admixed with a portion of the tail stream from the extraction step.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for extracting nickel, copper, cobalt and molybdenum from a complex ore containing copper, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese and iron. The process features treatment of the ore with gaseous compound followed by leaching with an aqueous ammonia/ammonium salt solution into which is additionally introduced sulfite.

Abstract: Cuprous oxide and finely divided metallic copper are recovered from copper bearing material by an improved chemical process involving the dissolving of the copper bearing material in a solution of ammonium nitrate having an excess of NO.sub.3.sup..dbd. ions to form a cupric ammonium complex which then collects additional copper ions to form a cuprous ammonium nitrate. The cuprous ammonium nitrate is then broken down chemically to cuprous oxide and finely divided metallic copper.

Abstract: Process in which manganese nodules are treated to enable metal values to be recovered. Manganese ore nodules are treated in a two-stage fluid bed process to produce a leachable product. In the first stage, dried nodules are calcined using direct fuel injection under a neutral or slightly oxidizing atmosphere to remove about one-half of the oxygen content. Subsequently, in the second stage, the calcined nodules are reduced with synthesis gas to render the metal values leachable. The metal values such as copper and nickel are leached from the reduced nodules with an ammonia-ammonium carbonate leach solution.

Abstract: Substantially pure copper is produced from impure cupriferous materials by leaching the cupriferous material with an ammonium sulfate-containing ammoniacal solution in the presence of oxygen, followed by separating the copper-containing aqueous liquor from the insoluble leach residue and contacting the thus separated leach liquor with an organic extractant of the metal ion exchange type to extract the copper from the leach liquor. The organic phase comprising the copper-bearing organic extractant is separated from the aqueous phase comprising the leach liquor of reduced copper content, and the resulting copper-bearing organic extractant is contacted with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid to strip the copper from the copper-bearing extractant.

Abstract: A low pressure, low temperature, hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of metal values from chalcopyrite and other metals and other metal sulfides. The process provides for all sulfur recovery as sulfuric acid and is nonpolluting, uses no neutralizing agents, and produces no waste products.

Abstract: In a process for treating manganese nodules wherein the nodules are reduced so as to convert most of the nickel, copper and cobalt impurities to their metallic state while inhibiting the conversion of the iron and manganese impurities to their metallic state, the resulting reduced ore is wet ground, if necessary, slurried and treated with an aqueous ammoniacal solution containing free oxygen to extract the metallic nickel, copper and cobalt as their ammine complexes. The iron and manganese are removed from the aqueous ammoniacal solution containing iron and manganese as impurities by leaching the slurry of reduced ore by adding sodium chloride or ammonium chloride thereto and blowing air in the leach solution which also contains sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: Copper, zinc and nickel are recovered from sulfide concentrates prepared from ores of one or more such metals by subjecting such concentrate to a leaching operation which comprises slurrying the concentrate in an aqueous solution containing ammonium sulfate and free ammonia and vigorously agitating the slurry at 50 to 80.degree. C. and below 10 psig. in the presence of free oxygen while vigorously recirculating said oxygen from above the surface of the slurry to a substantial depth below such surface. The resulting pregnant leach solution contains copper, zinc, and/or nickel in dissolved form complexed with ammonia and such solution is treated to recover the dissolved metal. The undissolved sulfidic residue from the leaching operation is subjected to a secondary flotation operation to produce a sulfide concentrate containing the metal values not dissolved in the leaching operation, and such concentrate is treated to recover such values, as by smelting or by releaching.

Abstract: A metal recovery process in which copper, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum are recovered by reducing comminuted raw manganese nodules and leaching the reduced nodules with an aqueous ammoniacal solution to obtain a leach solution containing these metal values. In order to recover copper from leach solutions by techniques such as ion exchange extraction, it is desirable to oxidize the copper to the cupric state.In another embodiment, oxidation is required to bring about the solution of reduced metallic metal values of copper, nickel and cobalt or to convert lower valence ions of these metals to a more highly oxidized state. The present invention is an improvement in the foregoing metal recovery processes. In the present invention manganese nodules are used as the oxidizing agent to oxidize slurries containing pre-reduced manganese nodules which have lower valence ions of metals such as copper or the metal itself.

Abstract: A process in which copper, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum are recovered by direct leaching of comminuted raw manganese nodules after the nodules are reduced in a reduction circuit with an aqueous ammoniacal leach solution containing cuprous ions. An improvement is disclosed which results from recycling a portion of the metal values recovered back to the reduction circuit as a solid basic metal carbonate. The metal carbonate recycle enables the size of the reactors in the reduction circuit to be reduced. The recycle also increases the efficiency of the process by facilitating the solubilization of copper. Another aspect of the invention resides in the advantages of maintaining solubilized copper in amounts between 10 grams per liter and the solubility limit in the reduction circuit.

Abstract: Organic acids are added to ammoniacal leach liquors containing base metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt. Ammonia and carbon dioxide are then stripped from the leach liquor by heating the leach liquor sufficiently to drive off the ammonia and carbon dioxide. The resulting loss of ammonia and carbon dioxide causes the pH of the leach liquor to drop and enables the metal values to load onto the organic acid. Metal values are selectively stripped from the loaded organic acid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for extracting nickel, copper, cobalt and molybdenum from a complex ore containing copper, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese and iron. The process features treatment of the ore with alcohol, aldehyde or mixtures thereof followed by leaching with an aqueous solution of ammonia and ammonium salt. A specific complex ore is sea nodules.

Abstract: A process in which copper, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum are recovered by direct leaching of comminuted raw manganese nodules with an aqueous ammoniacal leach solution containing cuprous ions. During the process cuprous ions reduce the nodules, are consumed, and are oxidized to cupric ions. The cuprous ions are regenerated by reducing the cupric ions with a reducing gas.

Abstract: Sulfur monochloride is reacted with an ore containing iron, sulfur and a metal which forms a water soluble ammine complex or an ammonium-containing double salt, to yield metal chlorides and sulfur. The metal sought is solubilized with an aqueous solution containing ammonium ions to produce an aqueous solution of metal ammine complex or double salt and thereby separate such complex or salt from the iron and sulfur. The solution containing the sought metal values can then be subjected to electrowinning to recover the metal, or the metal can be precipitated as the metal oxide by the addition of sodium hydroxide. Sulfur and chlorine are recovered during the process and used to regenerate sulfur monochloride.

Abstract: Non-cyanide alkaline aqueous solutions for stripping non-ferrous metals, especially copper, from ferrous metal such as, for example, steel. The stripper solution comprises a water-soluble nitrate, a water-soluble compound of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R represents a valence bond, --CH.sub.2).sub.x wherein x is an integer of 1 to 2, ##EQU2## WHEREIN Y IS AN INTEGER OF 1 TO 2, OR ##EQU3## and M is a compatible, hydrophilic, i.e. water-loving or water-solubilizing, cation, a water-soluble persulfate, a water-soluble urea compound, and ammonium hydroxide. Brass, cadmium and zinc can also be stripped from steel by the stripper or dissolving solutions herein.

Abstract: According to the process described, non-ferrous metal values, particularly nickel, copper and/or cobalt, are extracted from metallurgical intermediates, such as matte and speiss, by reacting the material under oxidizing conditions at a pH of about 4.5 to 6.5 with an ammonia free aqueous solution containing ammonium sulphate, sodium sulphate and/or nickel sulphate. The reaction-products of this operation are then mixed with sulphuric acid under ambient conditions to decrease the pH to about 3-4.5 and to dissolve the non-ferrous metals in the solution which is then separated from the undissolved residue. The process is particularly useful in treating intermediates containing precious metals in that the precious metals are substantially completely recovered in concentrated form in the undissolved residue.

Abstract: Certain mineral values are recovered from source material such as ore, scrap metal, and mixtures in the presence of another metal thereof by aqueous ammonia leaching solution, and the mineral values are precipitated by ammonia from said solution as a complex, and the mineral values are recovered from said complex.

Abstract: The invention is a process for winning nickel by treating an aqueous ammonium salt solution of nickel salts with a carbon monoxide-containing gas under reducing conditions to produce nickel carbonyl and subsequently recovering nickel therefrom. Optionally, the production of nickel carbonyl can be catalyzed, for example, by cyanide. Also, an essentially water-immiscible solvent for nickel carbonyl can optionally be employed. The aqueous ammoniacal solution is typically an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium chloride, carbonate, sulfate, hydroxide, or mixture thereof. The valuable metals associated with nickel, e.g., copper, cobalt, iron, and precious metals, are also separated and recovered by this process. The general nature of the process allows a wide variety of primary and secondary sources of nickel to be utilized by combining this process with a number of known ore-treatment steps.

Abstract: Copper is recovered from chalcopyrite by means of a pollution-free hydrometallurgical process which entails leaching and converting the chalcopyrite with copper sulfate in order to produce an insoluble copper sulfide, a soluble iron sulfate and sulfuric acid. A secondary leach is then conducted in order to react the copper sulfide with oxygen in the presence of a jarosite-forming cation to produce a soluble copper sulfate and an insoluble iron bearing jarosite. This copper sulfate is separated from the jarosite and sent to a copper recovery process and/or recycled. Alternatively, the copper sulfide from the initial leach may be separated from the iron sulfate solution immediately after the initial leach, and this copper sulfide can be treated with other processes to produce elemental copper and sulfur.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for separating metal values from an anhydrous mixture of metal halides in a fluid state, i.e. vapor or liquid; the separation is made by contacting a fluid mixture containing a halide of at least one less-noble metal selected from the group consisting of iron and manganese, and a halide of at least one more-noble metal selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt and nickel, with an elemental metal. This procedure is especially effective in the refining of ocean floor nodule ores.

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.