Abstract: Disclosed are novel ion-exchange and chelate-exchange resins having improved exchange kinetics for separating chemical species from liquids. The resins are prepared from copolymer beads consisting of a monovinyl aromatic monomer and a cross-linking monomer. The copolymer beads are functionalized such that weak-base exchange moieties are substituted at haloalkylated sites which are most accessible to diffusion into the beads, while hydrophilic, strong-base exchange moieties are substituted at haloalkylated sites which are least accessible to diffusion. The resins have improved exchange kinetics due to shortened diffusion path lengths for the chemical species being separated and improved diffusion into the resin beads due to the hydrophilic, strong-base exchange moieties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting strontium and technetium values from biological, industrial and environmental sample solutions using a chromatographic column is described. An extractant medium for the column is prepared by generating a solution of a diluent containing a Crown ether and dispersing the solution on a resin substrate material. The sample solution is highly acidic and is introduced directed to the chromatographic column and strontium or technetium is eluted using deionized water.

Abstract: A new process for removal of a metal ion from an anionic complex, including a first chelating agent and a metal ion, such as copper, nickel or cobalt ion, in electroless plating bath rinse streams utilizes a cation exchange resin to extract the metal ion from the rinse stream after the metal ion has been removed from the anionic complex and complexed with a second chelating agent.In another embodiment, a competing chelating agent is not added to the electroless plating bath waste stream, but rather, another metal ion (B), which has a higher affinity for the chelating agent than the metal ion (A) of interest and which is nontoxic, is added to the waste stream. Metal ion B is selected so that under predetermined conditions, metal ion B forms a stronger complex with the chelating agent than does metal ion A. Also, the complex of the chelating agent and nontoxic metal ion B is anionic. A cation exchange resin is used to extract metal ion A from the treated waste stream.

Abstract: Iron is removed from concentrated alum solutions by contacting said solutions with a polymer containing hydroxamic acid or salt groups.

Abstract: A process for recovering rhodium from an aqueous solution containing its complex compounds and optionally complex ligands in the presence of a water-soluble salt of a carboxylic acid by treatment of the aqueous solution at 20.degree. to 120.degree. C. with hydrogen peroxide (or a substance forming hydrogen peroxide) and with oxygen (or an oxygen-containing gas). The rhodium is then removed as a water-insoluble compound.

Abstract: A process for extracting metal values such as gallium and/or indium from aqueous solutions by contacting said solutions with a water immiscible organic solvent having dissolved therein a heterocyclic thione.

Abstract: Gold and silver are stripped from activated carbon on which they are adsorbed as cyanide complexes by subjecting the activated carbon to a stripping solution comprising as the strippant an effective amount of a compound containing the carboxylate functionality. The compound is preferably selected from benzoic and substituted benzoic acids, and polyacrylic acids of less than about 100,000 m.w.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing titanium oxide, comprising bringing a sulfuric acid solution containing predominantly titanium ion together with one or more kinds of metal ions into contact with an organic solvent containing one or more species selected from the group of oxygen-containing organic solvents, alkyl amines, and alkyl aryl amines to extract the titanium ions in a form of a sulfuric acid complex from the sulfuric acid solution, and bringing the organic solvent containing the extracted titanium into contact with water or an aqueous dilute sulfuric acid solution to inversely extract the titanium from the organic solvent to the water or the dilute sulfuric acid solution and to regenerate the organic solvent.

Abstract: A method of processing acidic Fe-containing solutions, in particular spent (discarded) pickling solutions, by liquid/liquid extraction with organic ion exchangers wherein the solutions also contain Zn, the contents in Fe and Zn are jointly extracted in a first extraction step, the first organic extract obtained which is charged with Fe.sup.3+, Fe.sup.2+ and Zn.sup.2+ is used for a renewed extraction of fresh solution wherein the Fe.sup.2+ -content of the first extract is exchanged for the Zn.sup.2+ -content of the fresh solution, and that the Zn.sup.2+ -content is separated from the second organic extract by stripping with acid. In particular, the renewed extraction is carried out at a pH value which is changed as compared to the pH value of the first extraction.

Abstract: Copper is separated from aqueous basic solutions by extraction with 3-hydroxy-2-alkylalkanaloxime or 2-hydroxymethyl-2-alkylalkanaloxime solution.

Abstract: A metallurgical processing system for economically recovering metal values, such as columbium, tantalum, thorium, and uranium from dilute source solids, such as digestion sludges, by a series of steps including:1) slurrying the source solids with dilute hydrofluoric acid to produce a solid phase and a liquid phase containing dissolved tantalum and columbium, then extracting tantalum and/or columbium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid ion-exchange process and then, additionally;2) roasting the solid phase with sulfuric acid to recover and recycle hydrofluoric acid, leaching the roasted solids with dilute sulfuric acid to produce a disposable solid phase and a liquid phase containing thorium and uranium, and extracting thorium and uranium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid-liquid amine extraction process.

Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of rare earth elements from a sulphurous acid solution containing them. The rare earth elements can be successfully separated and recovered by solvent extraction from the sulphurous acid solution, being an organo-phosphorus compound as extraction agent. Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid or 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-ethylhexyl ester is preferred as extraction agent.

Abstract: Described is a method of separating and recovering metal values from a waste stream containing metal hydroxides comprising the steps of providing an aqueous waste stream containing metal values including chromium; subjecting the waste stream to an oxidation process to convert the chromium to chromium (VI); precipitating the other metal values in the aqueous stream by adjusting the pH of the stream to cause the precipitations; and separately recovering the chromium (VI) from the remaining metal values. The process described pertains to separating and recovering metal values such as those from an electroplating process or an electroless process wherein the metals may be iron, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, nickel, copper, silver, aluminum and chromium. The chromium recovery step is performed by oxidizing chromium (III) to chromium (VI) preferably in the presence of a manganese catalyst and preferably utilizing ultrasound waves. The remaining metal values are separated by the use of a chelating ion exchange resin.

Abstract: A process for recovery of gallium from aqueous solution containing gallium by adsorbing gallium to a chelate resin is disclosed. According to this process, the aqueous solution containing gallium is contacted batchwise with a chelate resin having a high selective adsorptivity for gallium or by flowing the aqueous solution through the resin at a rate of at least 20 parts by volume/hr of the aqueous solution per 1 part by volume of the resin.

Abstract: A coated cation exchanged fabric having as its base a fluorinated cation exchange resin, oriented at least 1x, in alkali metal salt form and as its coating an unoriented or oriented melt-fabricable precursor of the same salt-form fluorinated cation exchange resin. The invention also includes various processes for making the coated fabric.

Abstract: A fluorinated cation exchange membrane made using reinforcement of oriented, hydrolyzed fabric of a cation exchange copolymer, the fabric having a coating of a melt-processible precursor or derivative of a fluorinated cation exchange resin on at least one surface or throughout.

Abstract: A sheath/core yarn having as its core a fluorinated cation exchange resin, oriented at least 1x, in alkali metal salt form and as its sheath an unoriented or oriented melt-fabricable precursor or derivative of the same salt-form fluorinated cation exchange resin. The invention also includes various processes for making the sheath/core yarn.

Abstract: A process for eliminating an industrial waste sludge by converting its metal values into useful products involves the selective leaching of Mn, divalent Fe, and other valuable metals, such as Sc, Co, Cr, Ni, Th, rare earths, etc. with a mixture of dilute sulfuric acid and a reductant at ambient temperature. Scandium is recovered by passing the leachate through an ion exchange column which is packed with a weakly cationic resin. The retention of other metals on the resin column is negligible. The scandium is eluted from the resin column and converted to a solid product. The raffinate from the ion exchange column is titrated with an alkali solution to convert the metals, except divalent Mn and Fe, to a solid metal hydroxide. After the separation the filtrate is treated with an alkali and an oxidant to recover iron as a solid product of iron oxide which is separated from the solution.

Abstract: A composition for use in extracting copper values from aqeous solutions of metal salts which comprises one more o-hydroxyaryloximes containing at least 5 aliphatic or alicyclic carbon atoms which are strong metal extractants which, in 0.2 molar solution in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solution loaded with 50% of the theoreticl uptake of copper, will be in equilibrium with 0.1 molar solution of copper as copper perchlorate at a pH less than 1; and one or more branched chain aliphatic or aromatic-aliphatic alcohols containing 14 to 30 carbon atoms or aliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic esters containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms, wherein the ratio of the number of methyl carbon atoms to the number of non-methyl carbon atoms is higher than 1:5, and which is selected from the group consisting of highly branched isohexadecyl alcohol, highly branched isooctadecyl alcohol and a diester of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol; and wherein the weight ratio of A to B is in the range 10:1 to 1:3.

Abstract: Nickel and cobalt are reversibly extracted from nickel and cobalt bearing aqueous solutions using solvent extraction techniques by contacting the aqueous solution with a hydrocarbon solvent containing a N-alkylalkanohydroxamic acid having at least about 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The separation of uranium, iron and scandium is achieved by the following process wherein a material containing these values is dissolved in mineral acid to form an aqueous solution, thereafter, an iminodiacetic acid cationic ion exchange resin is used to retain a major portion of the scandium and uranium. A raffinate containing the iron is formed. The ion exchange resin having said scandium and uranium retained thereon is rinsed with a dilute acid to remove residual metals other than scandium and uranium. The resin is eluted with an aqueous solution of an organic chelating acid to remove a major portion of the scandium from said resin and to form an aqueous solution containing scandium. The resin is then eluted with an aqueous solution of a mineral acid to remove a major portion of the uranium from the resin to form an aqueous solution containing the uranium. The scandium and uranium are recovered as solids.

Abstract: An improved process of extraction of gallium from aqueous solutions thereof to provide for recovery of the gallium in a very pure form, either as the metal or as the hydroxide. The process involves two extraction steps and two strip or scrub steps employing different extractant in each extraction and an acidic strip step after the first extraction and a basic strip step after the second extraction. The first extraction involves the use of 8-hydroxyquinoline extractant while the second extraction employs an amine extractant. The extraction process is a liquid-liquid process in which the water insoluble extractant compounds are employed in a water insoluble, water immiscible, organic solvent.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed in the solvent extraction process for recovering metal values, i.e. copper, from aqueous solutions, particularly aqueous solutions, containing copper and iron which may also include chloride, and more particularly to an improvement which provides for increased copper to iron ratios in the loaded organic extractant phase. The improvement comprises washing the loaded organic extractant phase prior to stripping of the copper values therefrom with an aqueous acidic scrub solution containing at least a portion of electrolyte.

Abstract: Aqueous effluent solutions containing metal cations may be treated with an extractant comprising an organophosphinic acid, a di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and/or an aliphatic amine to selectively separate chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper and lead cations from the aqueous solution. Typical extraction techniques include liquid-liquid extraction employing either mixer settlers or columns, liquid membrane extraction and selective supported membrane extraction.

Abstract: A method for neutralization of sulfuric acid containing Fe ions, comprising adding ions selected from the group consisting of Na ions, K ions, Mg ions, Ca ions and NH.sub.4 ions in the form of a compound containing chlorine to a sulfuric acid solution to be treated in an amount corresponding at least to the chemical equivalent to SO.sub.4.sup.2-, and bringing the resultant solution into contact with an organic solvent containing oxygen or comprising alkylamine for extracting Fe ions from said aqueous solution into the organic phase as chloride complex. Iron chloride can be recovered from the organic phase by distilling or evaporating the organic solvent or by extracting back it into water.

Abstract: A method for purifying hydrofluoric acid, comprising the steps of filtering the hydrofluoric acid to remove particulates, passing the filtered acid through a cation exchange material and an anion exchange material to remove ions therefrom, at least periodically automatically monitoring the acid that has passed through at least a predetermined portion of the cation exchange material for a predetermined level of cationic impurity representative of actual or impending ionic breakthrough in the cation exchange material, at least periodically automatically monitoring the acid that has passed through at least a predetermined portion of the anion exchange material for a predetermined level of anionic impurity representative of ionic breakthrough in the anion exchange material, automatically interrupting flow of acid through the anionic or cationic exchange material at or prior to the time the breakthrough in such material occurs, while the flow is interrupted, regenerating the anionic or cationic exchange material,

Abstract: A process for recovering Group VIII metals from process streams derived from carbonylation processes is provided. The process comprises contacting the process stream with an extracting stream comprising acetic acid in water and thereafter recovering the extracting stream. The process stream is preferably one which contains tar and is produced by diluting a side stream from a carbonylation reactor with methyl iodide. During the process the Group VIII metal is extracted into the extracting stream from the process stream.

Abstract: In the process for recovering gallium from aqueous, alkaline solutions by adsorption of the gallium on to bead-polymerized synthetic resins impregnated with 8-hydroxyquinolines and elution thereof with aqueous acids, the synthetic resins employed according to the invention are macroporous polydivinylbenzene or macroporous divinylbenzene copolymers which have been obtained by bead polymerization of divinylbenzene or mixtures of aromatic mono-, di- and/or trivinylbenzenes containing at least 50% by weight of divinylbenzene, in the presence of methyl isobutyl ketone, and which have been loaded with 160-190 g of Kelex 100 per liter of resin; in addition the resin is washed with sodium hydroxide solution after the elution step and before the commencement of each individual service cycle.

Abstract: Process for recovering gold from a leachate containing AuBr.sub.4.sup.-- comprising contacting the leachate with a quantity of sphagnum peat moss under conditions effective to concentrate the gold on the moss, and thereafter recovering the gold from the sphagnum peat moss.

Abstract: A process for selectively extracting precious metals such as silver and gold concurrent with copper extraction from aqueous solutions containing the same. The process utilizes tetrathiamacrocycles and high molecular weight organic acids that exhibit a synergistic relationship when complexing with certain metal ions thereby removing them from ore leach solutions.

Abstract: Gallium and rare earth values are recovered from oxide mixtures thereof by acidulating/dissolving such admixtures in an acid medium, and then liquid/liquid extracting the resulting solution and ultimately recovering said values from the phases which separate. The subject process is advantageously applied, for example, to the recovery of gallium and gadolinium from the waste fines resulting from the production of the garnets Gd.sub.3 Ga.sub.5 O.sub.12.

Abstract: A solvent extraction composition for radium including a high molecular wet organophilic carboxylic acid and an organophilic macrocycle dissolved in a suitable solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing selenium from wastewater effluent. The processd includes the steps of;(i) contacting a selenide containing wastewater and a strong-base anion exchange resin to absorb selenide on the resin;(ii) eluting the ion exchange resin with an eluant which is effective for stripping selenide therefrom; and(iii) recovering elemental selenium from the selenide containing eluate resulting from step (ii). Also disclosed is a process for regenerating the ion exchange resin by treatment of the resin with an acidic chlorate solution.

Abstract: An emulsion-forming composition for forming an emulsion for use in a process for selectively recovering germanium or arsenic from an aqueous solution thereof by liquid membrane technology is disclosed, said composition consisting essentially of: a solvent mixture consisting essentially of specified amounts of a hydrocarbon which is a predominantly straight-chain saturated C.sub.16 -C.sub.20 hydrocarbon or kerosine, a mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (pref. xylene), and a halogenated C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 hydrocarbon (pref. CCl.sub.4); and more than 0.1% by weight of an oil-soluble polyisobutylene-succinic anhydride/polyamine condensation product.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for separating rare earth ions or actinide ions or mixtures thereof in solution by passing the solution through an ion exchange material to separate the rare earths or actinides or mixtures thereof. The ion exchange material has a surface area of about 5-1500 m.sup.2 /g. The ion exchange material is impregnated with a liquid containing alkali metal cations, Group Ib metal cations, ammonium cations, organic amines or mixtures thereof, at a pH range above about 9. A plurality of fractions of the solution is collected as the solution passes through the ion exchange material, preferably in a column. This process is particularly preferred for separating rare earth ions and especially lanthanum and neodymium. It is particularly preferred to purify lanthanum to contain less than 0.1 ppm, preferably less than 0.01 ppm, of neodymium.

Abstract: Sulfate solutions containing nickel and cobalt ions are treated by solvent extraction to provide a nickel raffinate with a high Ni:Co ratio and a cobalt raffinate with a high Co:Ni ratio and with low recycle of cobalt by treating the solution with a cobalt extractant to provide a nickel raffinate of high Ni:Co ratio and a loaded extractant, acid stripping the loaded extractant to provide a cobalt sulfate solution containing some nickel and a regenerated cobalt extractant, treating the cobalt sulfate solution with a nickel extractant to provide a cobalt raffinate with a high Co:Ni ratio and acid stripping the loaded nickel extractant to regenerate the extractant and to provide a recyclable sulfate solution containing only a small proportion of the original cobalt.

Abstract: Fouling of heat exchangers in chemical processing or oil refining systems is inhibited by incorporating into a petroleum derived stock an effective antifouling amount of a mixture of(a) a condensation product of an alkylphenol, an aldehyde, and an amine; and(b) a diaminomethane.

Abstract: A process for recovering the scandium present as a trace constituent in a mixture of iron, manganese and other oxides comprise bringing the scandium into solution along with much of the other base metals, reducing the dissolved iron to the ferrous state, adjusting the pH of the resulting solution to a value of about 2.0 and selectively extracting the scandium with an organic extractant consisting of thenoyltrifluoroacetone dissolved in an aromatic solvent. The scandium values are recovered quantitatively from the organic extractant by treating it with a dilute acid. The process effects a complete separation of the scandium from the base metals resulting in a scandium product of high purity.

Abstract: Recovery of precious metals such as gold and silver from aqueous cyanide solutions thereof, by contact with a reagent containing a guanidine functionality. The guanidine reagent extracts the precious metal from the aqueous solution which is subsequently stripped from the guanidine reagent and recovered by conventional methods. Certain novel guanidine compounds suitable for extracting gold and silver are disclosed.

Abstract: Certain Mannich reaction products formed from the reaction of an alkyl substituted catechol, a polyamine, and an aldehyde are used to deactivate copper metal species contained in hydrocarbon fluids. Left untreated, such copper species lead to decomposition resulting in the formation of gummy, polymer masses in the hydrocarbon liquid.

Abstract: COS, CS.sub.2, mercaptan, SH.sub.2, SOX and/or NOX are removed from a host gas by scrubbing using a solution of a salt of Scandium, Yttrium, an element of the Lanthanide or Actinium groups or blends thereof in water or in organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the separation of molybdenum present in a sulfuric solution, in which the sulfuric solution is placed in contact with a stationary phase whose active group contains an oxime group, and the stationary phase is eluted using an alkaline solution.

Abstract: A method for the interseparation of platinum-group noble metals (PGMs) from a gold-free halide solution using at least one chromatographic column. The solution is passed through a column containing a solid absorbent having a Kd above 1 whereby the PGMs are absorbed. The loaded absorbent is eluted by a halide salt solution obtaining thereby well-spaced fractions, each containing only one single noble metal, coming out in the order: Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir and Cs. When gold is present with the PGMs, its prior removal is required by an additional chromatographic column containing an absorbent based on polystyrene divinyl.

Abstract: Cobalt is reversibly extracted from cobalt bearing aqueous solutions using solvent extraction techniques by contacting the aqueous solution with a hydrocarbon solvent containing a N-alkylakanohydroxamic acid having at least about 8 carbon atoms. A new class of cobalt complexes is also provided.

Abstract: In the production of a highly pure hafnium oxide by calcination of a highly pure hafnium hydroxide, the production of a highly pure hafnium hydroxide from a hafnium-loaded, methyl isobutyl ketone solvent that is substantially free of zirconium and sulfate ions by adding ammonia to such solvent to produce a three-layered reaction product having MIBK solvent on top, ammonium thiocyanate solution in the middle, and a highly pure hafnium hydroxcide sludge at the bottom which is separately removed, freed of water, and calcined.

Abstract: A method for recovering gallium, which comprises a capturing step of contacting an aqueous solution containing gallium to a chelating agent containing a water-insoluble substituted quinolinol as the active ingredient, to let the chelating agent capture gallium, and an eluting step of contacting an eluting solution composed of an aqueous solution of an acid or strong base containing said substituted quinolinol, to the chelating agent from the capturing step, to elute gallium therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively recovering ions from an aqueous solution and producing deionized water for reuse. When used in a nickel plating process, a rinse water stream is passed through a first cation removing assembly that contains an ion exchange media having a greater affinity for nickel ions than for most or all other ions present in the system. Rinse water processed by the first cation removing assembly is conveyed to a second cation removing assembly and then to an anion removing assembly so that deionized water is produced and is then returned to a rinse bath. Rinse water is passed through the first ion exchange media until substantially all of the ion exchange sites hold a nickel ion. The other cations in the rinse water are captured by the second cation assembly. The first cation assembly is regenerated using a regeneration solution compatible with the plating bath.

Abstract: The compounds of the invention comprise the condensation product, as well as derivatives thereof, of two equivalents of a trimethyl cyclohexane-anhydride acid chloride derivative with one equivalent of an aromatic diamine. The scope of the invention includes the method of using the compounds of the invention as chelating agents for metals, metal ions or ions of metal complexes. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the binding moieties of the cyclohexane derivatives are rigidly held opposite each other, by restricting their rotation about the N-C aryl bonds, in order to more effectively bind the metals or the ions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering gallium values contained in a basic aqueous solution by liquid/liquid extraction thereof. The liquid/liquid extraction process comprises contacting the basic aqueous solution with a water-immiscible, organic phase comprising a substituted hydroxyquinoline dissolved in an organic solvent therefor whereby gallium is extracted into the organic phase. Thereafter, the organic phase is separated from the basic aqueous phase and the gallium recovered from the separated organic phase. The improvement in process of the present invention comprises the organic phase further comprising dissolved therein an organic dioxime compound.

Abstract: A method 20 for decontaminating plastic products and materials which have become radioactively contaminated. The treatment method 20 involves dissolving such plastics in a dissolution tank 28 in an organic solvent and treating the resulting solution by a solvent extraction technique in column 36 to remove particulate and dissolved radioactive contaminants from the plastic. The contaminants can be buried in a low level radioactive waste site and the separated plastic material can be disposed of in a sanitary landfill or recycled into other plastic products.