Utilizing Chemical Agent To Precipitate Free Metal Patents (Class 75/739)
  • Patent number: 11926882
    Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous solution containing nickel or cobalt includes: (A) a leaching step, which includes a first atmospheric pressure heating leaching step and a second atmospheric pressure heating leaching step, in which a raw material is heated and leached under an atmospheric pressure to form a leachate solution containing nickel, cobalt, and impurities; (B) a first extraction step of separating the leachate solution into a first filtrate containing nickel and impurities and a first organic layer containing cobalt and impurities by adding a first solvent extractant to the leachate solution; (C-i) a precipitation removal step of precipitating and removing impurities including magnesium, calcium, or a mixture thereof by adding a precipitating agent to the first filtrate; and (D-i) a target material precipitation step of selectively precipitating a nickel cake containing nickel by adding a neutralizing agent to the first filtrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: KOREA ZINC CO., LTD., KEMCO
    Inventors: Heon Sik Choi, Jae Hoon Joo, Chang Young Choi
  • Patent number: 11873430
    Abstract: The technology described relates to a process for the safe dissolution of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and alloys predominantly comprising at least one thereof. The process comprises contacting the metal with a reaction inhibitor and water. In this process, the reaction inhibitor is selected from a hydrocarbon, a hydroxylated compound, and a mixture thereof. The uses of this process for the quantitative dissolution of metals and their analysis, for the destruction and stabilization of metallic residues, and for the recycling of batteries are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Patrick Bouchard, Josée Pronovost, Christiane Cossette, Serge Verreault, Chantal Baril, Dominic Leblanc, Karim Zaghib
  • Patent number: 11633702
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing solder paste having undercooled metallic core-shell particles. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a reconstitution assembly, a dispenser assembly, and a mixer, among other components. The reconstitution assembly is configured to place the cores of the solid core metallic core-shell particles into an undercooled liquid state to form a plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles. The dispenser assembly is configured to dispense one or more of a set of available flux components. The mixer assembly is configured to mix the one or more of the set of flux components dispensed by the dispenser assembly with the plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles formed by the reconstitution assembly to form a solder paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAFI-TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Darin Heisterkamp
  • Patent number: 11261101
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing a vanadium battery electrolyte by using a waste vanadium catalyst. The method includes step A: soaking a waste vanadium catalyst in an oxalic acid solution for 2-8 h, to generate a solution containing vanadyl oxalate; step B: cleaning the waste vanadium catalyst, and collecting the vanadyl oxalate solution; and step C: adding a polyacid ester into the vanadyl oxalate solution; and after full reaction, removing impurities by filtration, and concentrating the filtrate to obtain a vanadyl oxalate mother solution. The method for preparing a vanadium battery electrolyte by using a waste vanadium catalyst according to the present invention does not generate wastes which cause environmental pollution in the treatment process, and can make a solution in the waste vanadium catalyst treatment process generate the electrolyte for preparing a vanadium battery. The process is simple and the treatment cost is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hunan Sanfeng Vanadium Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaodi Xu, Xingjiang Tian
  • Patent number: 10566664
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producing lithium phosphate from a lithium solution, comprising the steps of, preparing a mixture in which a phosphorus-containing material is added to a lithium solution in step 1; adding a basic solution to the prepared mixture to adjust the pH to 10 to 12 in step 2; and making the pH-adjusted mixture react by raising its temperature and filtering to recover lithium phosphate in step 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SUNGEEL HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suk-Hyun Byun, Kang-Myung Yi, Ki-Woong Lee, Kwang-Joong Kim, Woo-Young Jung
  • Patent number: 8986425
    Abstract: A method for recovering rare earth compounds, vanadium and nickel from waste vanadium-nickel catalysts, comprising steps of: acid leaching, by soaking waste vanadium-nickel catalysts into a sulfuric acid solution and obtaining a mixture containing alumina silica slag; sedimentation, by filtering out the alumina silica slag from the mixture to obtain a filtrate, and then adding a salt into the filtrate to precipitate rare earth double salts followed by isolating a sediment of rare earth double salts and a liquid solution via filtration; and extraction, by providing and adding an alkali into the sediment of rare earth double salts followed by further soaking the rare earth double salts in an acid solution to precipitate rare earth oxalate or rare earth carbonate, and adding an oxidizer into the liquid solution to adjust the pH value thereof and then extracting vanadium and nickel from the liquid solution via an ion-exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hong Jing Environment Company
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Sun, Ming-Zhe Tsai, Yung-Hao Liu
  • Publication number: 20150013499
    Abstract: To provide a method for recovering lithium, that is capable of efficiently recovering lithium without containing impurities, such as phosphorus and fluorine, from a lithium-containing solution containing lithium hexafluorophosphate and separated from a lithium ion battery. In the present invention, alkali hydroxide is added to the lithium-containing solution and the solution is made to have pH 9 or more, a precipitate of a phosphate and a fluoride salt is formed, the formed precipitate is separated and removed, and then lithium is recovered from filtrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Asano, Hitoshi Ishida, Takayuki Nakai
  • Patent number: 8888892
    Abstract: A method for separating nickel, cobalt and a rare earth element from a material containing positive and negative electrode active materials of a nickel-metal hydride battery includes mixing a material containing positive and negative electrode active materials with a sulfuric acid solution and dissolving therein, and then separating a leachate from a residue; adding an alkali metal sulfate to the leachate to obtain a mixed precipitate of double sulfate of rare earth elements, and a rare-earth-element-free solution; and adding a sulfurizing agent to the rare-earth-element-free solution to separate a nickel and cobalt sulfide raw material and a residual solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoko Kikuta, Satoshi Asano, Masatoshi Takano
  • Patent number: 8852777
    Abstract: A method for preparing a redox flow battery electrolyte is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes the processing of raw materials containing sources of chromium ions and/or iron ions. The method further comprises the removal of impurities such as metal ions from those raw materials. In some embodiments, a reductant may be used to remove metal impurities from an aqueous electrolyte containing chromium ions and/or nickel ions. In some embodiments, the reductant is an amalgam. In some embodiments, the reductant is a zinc amalgam. Also provided is a method for removing ionic impurities from an aqueous acid solution. Further provided a redox flow battery comprising at least one electrolyte prepared from the above-identified methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Deeya Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Keshavarz, Aravamuthan Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 8814980
    Abstract: An improved method for processing of nickel-bearing ores, particularly saprolite and limonite, to recover the valuable minerals contained therein, comprising leaching the ore with nitric acid to form a slurry; separating the iron values by precipitation, removing the iron values; forming a liquid/solid residue in which nickel, cobalt and magnesium are in solution, and manganese and aluminum, when present, are solid residues in oxide form; conducting a liquid-solid separation and removing the solids; and recovering the nickel, cobalt, and manganese from the liquid-metal concentrate. The leachate is recovered and nitric acid from the leachate is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Drinkard Metalox, Inc
    Inventors: William F. Drinkard, Jr., Hans J. Woerner
  • Patent number: 8668761
    Abstract: A process for processing metallurgic residue that is obtained from electric steelworks dust, ESD, essentially containing iron and zinc in the form of zinc oxide and zinc ferrites, as well as a processing of the blast-furnace slags, BFS, and a combination with a synergy effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: VB2M
    Inventors: Eric Marcadier, Laurent Rizet, Valerie Bouclier
  • Patent number: 8480785
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a method and an apparatus for recovering indium, the method and apparatus ensuring that it is unnecessary to recover indium in the form of indium hydroxide, indium can be recovered easily by a filter or the like without handling inferiors and also, the recovery rate of indium is greatly improved. The method includes immersing a precipitation-inducing metal which includes zinc and is made into the form of a solid such that any part coming into view three-dimensionally has a longitudinal length of 2.5 to 10 mm in an etching waste solution containing at least indium and ferric chloride and allowed to stand, thereby allowing indium contained in the etching waste solution to precipitate on the surface of the precipitation-inducing metal based on a difference in ionization tendency between zinc and indium, and detaching the indium precipitated on the surface of the precipitation-inducing metal to recover it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Miki, Tamotsu Sugimoto, Eiichi Sahashi, Takamichi Honma, Tomoharu Maeseto
  • Publication number: 20130091989
    Abstract: A method for recovering rare earth, vanadium and nickel from waste vanadium-nickel catalysts, comprising steps of: acid leaching, by soaking waste vanadium-nickel catalysts into a sulfuric acid solution and obtaining a mixture containing alumina silica slag; sedimentation, by filtering out the alumina silica slag from the mixture to obtain a filtrate, and then adding a salt into the filtrate to precipitate rare earth followed by isolating a sediment of rare earth double salts and a liquid solution via filtration; and extraction, by providing and adding an alkali into the sediment of rare earth double salts followed by further soaking the rare earth double salts in an acid solution to precipitate rare earth, and adding an oxidizer into the liquid solution to adjust the pH value thereof and then extracting vanadium and nickel from the liquid solution via an ion-exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Yu-Lung SUN, Ming-Zhe Tsai, Yung-Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 8404019
    Abstract: The disclosure provides to a PDC element protective system including a mask configured to protect a non-leached portion of a leached polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) element during a leaching process. The mask may be formed from or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The disclosure also provides a leaching system containing such a mask and a leaching vessel as well as methods of using the protective and leaching systems. The disclosure further provides a Lewis acid-based leaching agent and methods of its use. Finally, the disclosure provides a method of recycling a PDC or carbide element using a Lewis acid-based leaching agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ram L. Ladi, Stephen W. Almond, Gary E. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8361191
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Search Minerals, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dreisinger, James Clucas
  • Publication number: 20120247271
    Abstract: A filter cake, including a first metal in an insoluble form and/or filtrate comprising Cr in a soluble form, obtained by a method involving filtering an aqueous slurry of a metal-bearing raw source material comprising the first metal in an insoluble form, soluble and/or insoluble Cr in a Cr bearing material as a second metal, and organic and inorganic compounds, after adjusting the pH of the slurry to an alkaline pH sufficient to convert soluble Cr present to an insoluble form and selectively leaching the Cr by adding a leaching agent in an amount sufficient to convert Cr to a soluble form while the first metal remains in the slurry in an insoluble form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Peter T. HALPIN, Ulrich R. SCHLEGEL, Dale L. SCHNECK
  • Publication number: 20120186397
    Abstract: An all-wet process for reclaiming the lead content of impure electrode paste or slime from discarded lead batteries and/or lead minerals, in form of high purity lead compound, comprises a) suspending the impure lead containing material in a lead sulphate dissolving aqueous solution of a salt belonging to the group composed of the acetates of sodium, potassium and ammonium; b) adding to the suspension sulphuric acid in an amount sufficient to convert all lead oxides to lead sulphate soluble in the acetate salt solution and slowly adding to the suspension either hydrogen peroxide or a sulphite or bubbling sulphurous anhydride through it, in a measure adapted to reduce any lead dioxide to lead oxide converted eventually to soluble lead sulphate by the sulphuric acid; c) separating a limpid acetate salt solution containing dissolved lead sulphate from a solid phase residue including all undissolved compounds and impurities; d) adding to the separated solution of lead sulphate either carbonate or hydroxide of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Millbrook Lead Recycling Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Federica Martini
  • Patent number: 8177882
    Abstract: A method for selectively recovering a metal from mined ore and other metal-bearing raw source materials is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: World Resources Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Halpin, Ulrich R. Schlegel, Dale L. Schneck
  • Patent number: 8167974
    Abstract: The process relates improving the recovery of a metal catalyst from an oxidizer purge stream produced in the synthesis of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid, while utilizing pressure filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. De C.V.
    Inventor: Kenny Randolph Parker
  • Patent number: 8152896
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a formulation created by reacting sodium hydroxide, water, and silicon metal which has unique properties and many uses. The present invention further relates to the separation of fine particle gold and other precious metals from clays and other gangue materials through application of a diluted solution of a silicon chemical. The present invention further relates to the use of the diluted solution of the silicon chemical with vibration tables, concentrators, wash towers, hydro-cyclones and centrifuges and the like to aid in the separation of fine particle gold and other precious metals from clays and other gangue materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Silicon Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Earl Ben Elledge, George Stapleton
  • Patent number: 8043399
    Abstract: A method for detoxifying spent CCA (copper, chromium, arsenic) treated wood, from which CCA is efficiently removed from the wood, allowing both the CCA and the wood to be reused has been developed. The method comprises the steps of (1) microwave-enhanced acid extraction of CCA, (2) separation of the acid-containing CCA solution from the wood, (3) separation/precipitation of CCA from the acid extract, (4) recovery and regeneration of CCA-bearing precipitant for reuse in the wood preservation industry, (5) recycling recovered acid solution, (6) microwave-assisted liquefaction of the extracted wood, and (7) use of detoxified liquefied wood to form polymeric materials such as polyurethanes and phenolic resin adhesives. The recovered CCA may be used to treat wood. The recovered acids may be used to extract CCA from CCA-treated wood, and the liquefied wood may be used as phenolic or polyurethane resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College LSU Inc
    Inventors: Chung-Yun Hse, Todd Finley Shupe, Bin Yu, Hui Pan
  • Patent number: 8038767
    Abstract: An improved method for processing of nickel bearing saprolite and limonite ores to recover the valuable minerals contained therein, comprising leaching the ore with nitric acid to form a slurry; separating the iron values by precipitation, removing the iron values; forming a liquid/solid residue in which nickel, cobalt and magnesium are in solution, and manganese and aluminum are solid residues in oxide form; conducting a liquid-solid separation and removing the solids; and recovering the nickel, cobalt, and manganese from the liquid-metal concentrate. The leachate is recovered and nitric acid from the leachate is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Drinkard Metalox, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Drinkard, Jr., Hans J. Woerner
  • Patent number: 8034158
    Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing an Fe/Ni-containing material having a low content of sulfur (S) from an Fe/Ni/SO4-containing liquid waste, a ferronickel mass using the Fe/Ni-containing material, and a method of manufacturing the ferronickel mass. The method of manufacturing an Fe/Ni-containing material from an Fe/Ni-containing liquid waste includes: removing SO4 from an Fe/Ni/SO4-containing liquid waste by adding an SO4 neutralizing agent to the liquid waste so that pH of the liquid waste can be maintained to a pH level of 0.5 to 2.5; precipitating Fe and Ni in the form of hydroxide [(Ni,Fe)(OH)] by adding NaOH to the SO4-free solution; washing the precipitate with water; and manufacturing an Ni/Fe-containing material by filtering and drying the washed Ni/Fe-containing sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventor: Jae Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20110196168
    Abstract: Nickel-metal-containing solids for use in manufacturing nickel metal complexes are disclosed. The nickel-metal-containing solids are made by reducing basic nickel carbonates. By varying the molar ratios of carbonates and bicarbonates to nickel salts, the methods provide basic nickel carbonates that produce superior nickel metal-containing solids that react more effectively with phosphorous-containing ligands. The phosphorous containing ligands can be both monodentate and bidentate phosphorous-containing ligands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A. R.L.
    Inventor: JOHN J. OSTERMAIER
  • Patent number: 7964015
    Abstract: An improved process and composition for the extraction of metal from a metal-laden ore, soil or rock is provided. A liquid, three-component aqueous lixiviant comprises water, an alkali metal salt and a low pH acidic composition. A four-component aqueous lixiviant comprises water, a low pH acidic composition, an alkali metal salt and an acid having a pH value less than 2. Both lixiviant compositions are efficient for extracting metal into a pregnant liquid solution. The pregnant solution is treated by known conventional means, such as filtration, centrifuging or electrolysis to remove the extracted metals. The three-component and four-component aqueous lixiviants of the present invention are non-toxic, meaning, not an irritant or deleterious to humans or the environment and perform, as well as, or better than known toxic cyanide lixiviants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Contact Marketing Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Creasey, Edwin B. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7935171
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SSM Development Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Ivan Ratchev, Houyuan Liu, Alexey Duarte, Harald Theowald Muller
  • Patent number: 7811357
    Abstract: Sulphidic zinc concentrate usually also includes small amounts of rare metals such as indium and gallium. If the content of these metals in the raw material is sufficiently high, their recovery may be economically worthwhile. In the method according to the invention the recovery of indium and other desirable rare metals takes place in a zinc leaching process, in which at least part of the sulphidic concentrate is leached directly without roasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Marko Lahtinen, Mikko Ruonala, Kurt Svens, Stig-Göran Huldén, Sigmund Fugleberg
  • Publication number: 20100242678
    Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing an Fe/Ni-containing material having a low content of sulfur (S) from an Fe/Ni/SO4-containing liquid waste, a ferronickel mass using the Fe/Ni-containing material, and a method of manufacturing the ferronickel mass. The method of manufacturing an Fe/Ni-containing material from an Fe/Ni-containing liquid waste includes: removing SO4 from an Fe/Ni/SO4-containing liquid waste by adding an SO4 neutralizing agent to the liquid waste so that pH of the liquid waste can be maintained to a pH level of 0.5 to 2.5; precipitating Fe and Ni in the form of hydroxide [(Ni,Fe)(OH)] by adding NaOH to the SO4-free solution; washing the precipitate with water; and manufacturing an Ni/Fe-containing material by filtering and drying the washed Ni/Fe-containing sludge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Jae Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7785395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering gold from a sulphidic concentrate, particularly one containing arsenopyrite and/or pyrite, hydro-metallurgically. The concentrate is first subjected to leaching with a concentrated solution of alkali chloride and copper (II) chloride, by means of which the copper minerals and some of the gold in the concentrate are made to dissolve. Elemental sulphur and precipitated iron and arsenic compounds are separated from the leaching residue using physical separation methods, whereby the first intermediate is obtained, which contains gold-bearing sulphide minerals and gangue minerals as well as the gold that remains undissolved. The free gold that remains undissolved is separated by means of gravity separation methods. After gravity separation, additional comminution is carried out, after which the sulphide minerals are decomposed and the gold-containing solution or residue is routed to the concentrate leaching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Jaakko Leppinen, Olli Hyvärinen, Seppo Heimala, Veikko Palosaari, Matti Hämäläinen, Tuula Hämäläinen, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7744834
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles, the method including forming a mixture by dissociating a metallic salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Pd, Pt, Au and an alloy thereof as a metal precursor in fatty acid; and adding a metallic salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of Sn(NO3)2, Sn(CH3CO2)2, and Sn(acac)2 as a metallic catalyst into the mixture and mixing the mixture and the metallic salt. According to the method, metal nanoparticles have a uniform particle size distribution and a high yield by performing in a non-aqueous environment without using any organic solvent, and are environmentally friendly due to no use of a reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwi-Jong Lee, Jae-Woo Joung, Byung-Ho Jun
  • Publication number: 20100143781
    Abstract: A method for preparing a redox flow battery electrolyte is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes the processing of raw materials containing sources of chromium ions and/or iron ions. The method further comprises the removal of impurities such as metal ions from those raw materials. In some embodiments, a reductant may be used to remove metal impurities from an aqueous electrolyte containing chromium ions and/or nickel ions. In some embodiments, the reductant is an amalgam. In some embodiments, the reductant is a zinc amalgam. Also provided is a method for removing ionic impurities from an aqueous acid solution. Further provided a redox flow battery comprising at least one electrolyte prepared from the above-identified methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Majid KESHAVARZ, Aravamuthan Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 7670407
    Abstract: A method of producing titanium metal from a titanium-containing material includes the steps of producing a solution of M?TiF6 from the titanium-containing material, selectively precipitating M?2TiF6 from the solution by the addition of (M?)aXb and using the selectively precipitated M?2TiF6 to produce titanium. M? is a cation of the type which forms a hexafluorotitanate, M? is selected from ammonium and the alkali metal cations, X is an anion selected from halide, sulphate, nitrite, acetate and nitrate and a and b are 1 or 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peruke (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Gerard Pretorius
  • Publication number: 20090272230
    Abstract: A process for recovering rare earth elements from a composite ore containing rare earth elements that includes a monazite group mineral and an apatite mineral, includes pre-leaching the composite ore with an acid so as to substantially dissolve the apatite mineral into the leach liquor and precipitating rare earth elements from the pre-leach liquor. The residue of the pre-leaching step is subjected to an acid bake treatment, followed by a water leach, to produce a water leach liquor rich in rare earth elements. Impurities including thorium and iron are separated from the water leach liquor by introducing a neutralizing additive to the water leach liquor rich in rare earth elements, and rare earth elements are precipitated from the post-neutralization liquor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Arafura Resources Limited
    Inventors: Steven John Mackowski, Raul Raiter, Karin Helene Soldenhoff, Elizabeth Margaret Ho
  • Patent number: 7582136
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of gold from a potassium iodide-iodine solution is provided. The gold is precipitated from the solution using a weak acid, (e.g. ascorbic acid), a buffer, (e.g. sodium bicarbonate), and a dye. The precipitate is then removed from the solution resulting in the recovery the gold precipitate and the potassium iodide-iodine solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Union Etchants International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Union
  • Publication number: 20090158895
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the Industrial purification of a titanium feed stream of purity P1, by the formation of a titanium-double-salt precipitate of purity P2 and a titanium solution with purity P3, wherein P2>P1>P3, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming, from the feed, a medium comprising water, titanium ion, a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, cations of alkali metals, protons and a combination thereof, and an anion selected from the group consisting of OH, SO4, HSO4, halides and a combination thereof, which formed medium is further characterized by the presence of (a) a double-salt precipitate comprising titanium ion, at least one of the cations and at least one of the anions; and (b) a titanium solution; and wherein the concentration of the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 15% and the ratio between the concentrations of the cation and the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 0.2 and lower than 1.6; and ii.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Asher Vitner, Aharon Eyal, Revital Mali
  • Patent number: 7547348
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recovery of metals, in particular copper, from a copper-bearing raw material, whereby the material is leached into a chloride-containing solution. The leaching of the raw material is performed oxidatively and at a sufficiently high redox potential that the copper in the copper chloride solution from leaching is mainly divalent. The chloride solution obtained, which contains copper and potentially other valuable metals, is fed to liquid-liquid extraction. In the extraction the copper is first transferred to the organic phase with extraction and then to a sulphate solution in stripping, which is fed to copper electrowinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Outotec OYJ
    Inventors: Stig-Erik Hultholm, Olli Hyvärinen
  • Publication number: 20090133536
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating and recovering base metals from a used hydroprocessing catalyst originating from Group VIB and Group VIII metals and containing at least a Group VB metal. In one embodiment, the used catalyst is contacted with an ammonia leaching solution to dissolve and separate the Group VIB and VIII metals from the Group VB metal complex and coke associated with the used catalyst. The resulting Group VIB and VIII metal containing solution is processed through at least two additional precipitation and liquid/solid separation steps to produce, in separate processing streams, a Group VIB metal product solution (such as ammonium molybdate) and a Group VIII metal product solution (such as nickel sulfate). Additionally, two separate filtrate streams are generated from liquid-solid separation steps, which filtrate streams are combined and subjected to hydrolysis and oxidation (oxydrolysis) to generate a purified ammonium sulfate solution for further processing, such as for fertilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Rahul S. Bhaduri
  • Patent number: 7517384
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Systems embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, David R. Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W. Hazen, Roland Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090035575
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal nano particles having a hollow structure is provided. First, a suitable reducing agent is added into a first metal salt solution, and first metal ions are reduced to form first metal nano particles. Next, after the reducing agent is decomposed, a second metal salt solution with a higher reduction potential than that of the first metal is added. Then, the first metal particles are oxidized to form first metal ions when the second metal ions are reduced on the surface of the first metal by electrochemical oxidation reduction reaction, and thus, second metal nano particles having a hollow structure and a larger surface area are obtained. The method is simple and the metal nano particles with uniform particle size are obtained by this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Li-Duan Tsai, Kan-Lin Hsueh, Sung-Chun Chang, Man-Yin Lo, Yu-Min Peng, Chun-Chieh Huang, Ru-Shi Liu, Hao Ming Chen, Hsin-Chieh Peng
  • Patent number: 7387767
    Abstract: A process for recovering nickel and cobalt values from nickel- and cobalt-containing laterite ores as an enriched mixed nickel and cobalt sulphide intermediate and for producing nickel and cobalt metal from the nickel and cobalt sulphide intermediate. The laterite ore is leached as a slurry in a pressure acid leach containing an excess of aqueous sulphuric acid at high pressure and temperature, excess free acid in the leach slurry is partially neutralized to a range of 5 to 10 g/L residual free H2SO4 and washed to yield a nickel- and cobalt-containing product liquor, the product liquor is subjected to a reductant to reduce any Cr(VI) in solution to Cr(III), the reduced product liquor is neutralized to precipitate ferric iron and silicon at a pH of about 3.5 to 4.0, and the neutralized and reduced product liquor is contacted with hydrogen sulphide gas to precipitate nickel and cobalt sulphides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Dynatec Corporation
    Inventors: Finlay Campbell, Michael Collins, Ian Masters, Lyle Trytten
  • Patent number: 7214644
    Abstract: A method for producing a copper/palladium colloid catalyst useful for Suzuki couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Coggan, Nan-Xing Hu, H. Bruce Goodbrand, Timothy P. Bender
  • Patent number: 7211230
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing nanometer powders, comprising the following steps: (a) providing reactant solution A and reactant solution B that can rapidly react to form precipitate; (b) continuously adding said solution A and solution B into a mixing and reacting precipitator with a stator and a rotor in operation, respectively; and (c) post-treating the precipitate-containing slurry discharged continuously from the mixing and reacting precipitator. The present process could produce nanometer powders with adjustable particle size, good homogeneity in size and good dispersity. The method also has the characteristics of high production yield, simplicity in process and low consumption of energy. It could be applied to produce various nanometer powders of metals, oxides, hydroxides, salts, phosphides and sulfides as well as organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Anshan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yingyan Zhou, Shoushan Gao, Hongxia Li, Kaiming Wang, Xiaoqi Li, Lixiang Li, Chuangeng Wen
  • Patent number: 7052528
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the removal of substantially all the amount of Mn contained in cobalt containing solution thereby to obtain purified cobalt solution with Mn content of 10 ppm or less and specifically a method for removing Mn from cobalt sulfate solution comprising the steps of adjusting pH of the solution within the range of 3–6 and then adding the NaOCl to the solution to obtain an oxidation-reduction potential in the range of 1100 to 1300 mV, with respect to standard hydrogen electrode (SHE); and removing Mn precipitate from thus treated solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Seido Chemical Industry Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Juraj Babjak, Miyuki Imai, Tomoaki Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 7037357
    Abstract: A method to dissolve at least one metal from jarosite or other iron hydroxyl sulphate containing-material which includes the steps of subjecting the material to alkaline treatment in a brine solution to facilitate jarosite decomposition, and acidification of the brine slurry to solubilise the liberated metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: BHP Billiton SA Limited
    Inventors: Noelene Ahern, Jozef Maria Schaekers
  • Patent number: 6958308
    Abstract: A method for producing dispersed metal particles on a substrate and the compositions produced is disclosed. A method for producing the particles comprises exposing an organometallic and a particulate substrate to supercritical or near supercritical fluid under conditions to form a mixture of the fluid and the organometallic, allowing the mixture to remain in contact with the substrate for a time sufficient to deposit dispersed organometallic onto the substrate, venting the mixture, thereby adsorbing the organometallic onto the substrate, and reducing the dispersed organometallic to dispersed metal particles with a reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Columbian Chemicals Company
    Inventor: Garth Desmond Brown
  • Patent number: 6893482
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Systems embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, David R. Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W. Hazen, Roland Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20040237844
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pigment with a metallic lustre, comprising a plate-like non-metallic substrate having a thickness lower an 200 nm, which is entirely coated with a metallic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Gerhard Pfaff, Stephanie Andes, Michael Uhlig
  • Publication number: 20030206822
    Abstract: High purity iron with a very few content of impurities such as copper, a method of manufacturing thereof, and high purity iron targets are provided. The iron containing impurities such as copper is dissolved in a hydrochloric acid solution, and the concentration of the hydrochloric acid of the aqueous solution of iron chloride is adjusted to 0.1 kmol/m3 to 6 kmol/m3. Then, iron is added in the aqueous solution of iron chloride, and an inert gas is injected into the solution with agitating, in order to convert the trivalent iron ions and divalent copper ions contained in the aqueous solution of iron chloride respectively to divalent iron ions and monovalent copper ions. Then, the aqueous solution of iron chloride is fed into a column filled up with the anion exchange resins. The divalent iron ions are not absorbed on the anion exchange resins although the monovalent copper ions are absorbed on the anion exchange resins. Therefore, copper can be separated from the aqueous solution of iron chloride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Masahito Uchikoshi, Norio Yokoyama, Tamas Kekesi, Minoru Isshiki
  • Patent number: 6632265
    Abstract: The nickel powder is characterized in that the rate of the nickel particles whose particle size is not less than 1.2 time the average particle size as determined by the observation with an SEM is not more than 5% of the total number of nickel particles and that the rate of nickel particles whose particle size is not more than 0.8 time the average particle size is not more than 5% of the total number of nickel particles. The nickel powder is produced by bringing a slurry, containing nickel hydroxide, which is prepared by adding an aqueous solution of a nickel salt to an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, into contact with a hydrazine reducing agent under the temperature conditions of not less than 55° C. to reduce the nickel hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Mukuno, Takayuki Araki, Yoshiharu Toshima
  • Patent number: 6626979
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Processes embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, David R. Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W. Hazen, Roland Schmidt