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.

Abstract: A process for elution of rhenium adsorbed on strongly basic ion-exchange resins by means of highly concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid solution is described, in which the ion-exchange resin is treated with aqueous solution containing an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A method of recovering zirconium values from an ore containing zircon, baddeleyite, and uranium is disclosed. The method includes fusing the ore with soda ash and contacting the resulting fused ore with sulfuric acid, which generates an acid leach liquor that contains zirconium and uranium values and solids that comprise baddeleyite and silica. Baddeleyite is recovered by contacting it with sulfuric acid to convert baddeleyite to zirconium sulfate, which can be dissolved in the acid leach liquor. The method also includes separating zirconium from uranium by solvent extraction followed by precipitation.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are efficient methods for leaching minerals from ores using an acidic solution such as sulfuric acid. Additional factors which can improve mineral recovery include the use of an alkali metal halide, grinding the ore, addition of a carbon source, and/or, adjustment of the temperature at which the process is carried out. Minerals such as titanium, iron, nickel, cobalt, silver and gold may be recovered by the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing residues containing at least one non-ferrous metal, preferably chosen from the group comprising zinc, lead, nickel, copper and cadmium and/or compounds thereof. According to this method, the non-ferrous metal is extracted from the residues by an extracting agent containing a carboxylic acid and/or a substituted carboxylic acid and/or its alkali salts and/or ammonium salts and/or mixtures thereof.

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.

Abstract: An organic acid salt is deposited on the surface of a solder powder containing Sn and Zn. Alternatively, 0.5 to 10 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant is added to a flux. By a method comprising such a procedure, provided are a lead-free solder powder and solder paste having good soldering characteristics wherein the reaction of an activating component with an alloy component in a flux is suppressed.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.

Abstract: A method for winning the valuable metal content of a leaching solution acidified with sulphuric acid, by solvent extraction and electrowinning and a following final product winning stage, for instance an electrowinning stage, wherein the pH of the leaching solution is raised successively to precipitate out the iron and arsenic present in a first precipitation stage, removing said first precipitate, and precipitating the valuable metal content of the leaching solution substantially totally in a following precipitation stage. The resultant precipitate containing valuable metal and gypsum is removed and leached in an acid environment to re-dissolve the valuable metal content, and the thus formed acid solution and its metal content are delivered to a solvent extraction circuit in which the metal content is converted to a substantial degree to an acid electrolyte from which metal or some other end product is won.

Abstract: The present invention discloses s novel synthesis method of nickel fibers. The method of the present invention involves reducing nickel ions in an aqueous solution with a reducing agent in the presence of a base, a pH buffer, and a magnetic field or a surfactant at a temperature of 80-100° C. for a period of time, wherein a pH value of the aqueous solution is not less than 11.0 during the period of time, so that nickel fibers are formed in the aqueous solution. The nickel fibers synthesized in the present invention have a diameter ranging from sub-micron to microns, and a length up to centimeters.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical method involves treating a dross source containing typically both antimony and tin and treating the dross to a series of chemical operations to yield a soft lead precursor, suitable for making soft lead for lead-based alloys for batteries or other applications, which method includes utilizing sulfuric acid to decompose the dross source to provide a slurry in which the liquid contains the principal tin values and the solid phase contains the antimony and lead values, followed by treating of the separated solid phase so as to either separate the lead values from the antimony values via an antimony leach and a solid/liquid separation or by desulfurizing the solid phase, carrying out a solid/liquid separation, treating the solid phase with a lead leach to solubilize the lead values and carrying out a further solid/liquid separation to recover the lead-rich phase as the filtrate, separated from the antimony-rich solid phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering nickel in one and the same process from two pyrometallurgically produced nickel mattes, one of which contains a remarkable percentage or iron. The leaching of iron-bearing nickel matte is carried out in one step by conducting solution from the leaching cycle of a less iron containing matte into the leaching of a more iron containing matte at a stage where the iron of the less iron containing matte is in soluble form. The iron contained in the mattes is advantageously precipitated as jarosite and the solution created in the leaching of the more iron containing matte is conducted back into the leaching cycle of the less iron containing matte.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating the group III element component of a group III-V material from an aqueous waste containing a group III-V material to allow for their recovery and beneficial use. The method includes adjusting the pH of an aqueous waste containing a group III-V material to a pH from about 9.5 to about 12.5 by adding an alkali metal hydroxide base to the aqueous waste; precipitating a group V element oxyanion by adding a soluble alkaline metal salt to the aqueous waste; separating the group V element oxyanion from the aqueous waste; adjusting the pH of the aqueous waste to form a group III element hydroxide precipitate by adding a mineral acid to the aqueous waste; separating the group III element hydroxide precipitate from the aqueous waste; and recovering the group III element from the group III element hydroxide precipitate.

Abstract: A method of processing a copper mineral, the method comprising activating the copper mineral by milling the copper mineral to P80 of between 2 and 20 micron, and subsequently subjecting the activated copper mineral to an oxidative hydrometallurgical treatment in the presence of chloride ions in an amount of from 2 to 10 g/L.

Abstract: A method for concurrently transporting and leaching metal values from an ore or concentrate containing said metal values from an originating site such as an elevated site to a delivery site comprising the steps of crushing and/or grinding the ore or concentrate to form a particulate having a size range suitable for transport by gravity or a combination of pumping and gravity as a solid constituent in an aqueous slurry, forming an aqueous slurry of from about 30 to about 70 percent by weight of said particulate in an aqueous medium, and adjusting said aqueous slurry to contain an effective amount of a lixiviant for dissolution of said metal values into the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The invention provides submicron particles. The invention further provides submicron particles which are dispersed in an aqueous colloid. The invention further provides a method of forming the stable dispersion which includes providing an ion exchange resin, loading the ion exchange resin with an ion, treating the loaded resin to form nanoscale particles. The invention further provides fluidizing the resin and particles to form an aqueous stable colloid.

Abstract: A process for removing dissolved oils and greases from an aqueous solution which also may contain dissolved heavy metals is provided wherein the aqueous solution is mixed with a source of ferrous ion and dithionite ion in a first step at acidic pH to reduce and permit removal of solid heavy metal, is present and to separate oils and greases from the aqueous solution. Solution from the first step if reacted in a second step with hydroxide slurries obtained from third and fourth steps. A second step solution from the second step is reacted in a third step with an alkali composition and a third solution. Optionally, the third solution is reacted with a chelating agent for iron and an oxidizer in a fourth step. A solution of chelated iron from the fourth step, when practical is disposed of. Oils and greases are recovered from the first step such as by skimming.

Abstract: A process for recovering nickel that is in soluble form and in relatively low concentrations, typically up to 2% by weight in a liquor, comprises: (a) precipitating nickel from solution (preferably as a hydroxide or sulphide); (b) adding an inert particulate carrier and a flocculent to the liquor to form flocs comprising nickel precipitate, inert particulate carrier, and flocculent; (c) separating the flocs from the liquor (preferably by gravitational settling or magnetic separation); and (d) separating the nickel precipitate from the flocs (preferably by agitating the flocs). The nickel precipitate and flocs are preferably then passed through a filter to remove the nickel as filter cake. The inert carrier is preferably sand, alumina, magnetite, hematite, ilmenite or calcite. The flocculent is preferably a cationic, non-ionic or anionic flocculent.

Abstract: A method for the reclamation of zinc, lead, tin, cadmium and copper from dust containing such elements or compounds which involves leaching the dust with sulfuric acid or ammonium bisulfate, neutralization the leachate with zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide, and cementing and/or roasting various intermediate and final products for the reclamation of the above metals. The method is especially designed for reclaiming the above metals from waste streams from production processes for electrical conductors. The method is a continuous process with the recirculation of various solutions remaining after the completion of each step.

Abstract: A method in which a contaminated aqueous solution produced as a result of a hydrometallurgical extraction operation is passed through a filtering bed comprising a plurality of elements, optionally of differing sizes and shapes, formed from materials including plastics and their derivatives, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, teflon, etc., so as to remove organic phase residues, solids, and other contaminants therefrom. The method is complemented by a back wash stage using air and water to dislodge the contaminants from the bed to permit subsequent collection and/or treatment of these materials. The method exhibits technical and economic advantages that are very significant in comparison to traditional methods.

Abstract: Method for recovering cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) from batteries containing the steps of: (a) reducing the size of the batteries to small pieces and separating the pieces into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction with the coarse fraction further separated into a magnetic and a non-magnetic fraction; (b) leaching out the fraction at approximately 90.degree. C.; (c) removing the Cd; (d) stripping the extractant and separating metallic Cd therefrom; (e) converting Fe-ions into (solid) Fe hydroxide and filtering; (f) recovering Ni from the filtrate.

Abstract: Heavy metal ions react with ferrous dithionite in acidic aqueous solution. They are reduced to metallic particles that are suitable for recycling and reuse when recovered from the acidic water. Chelating agents that are present are deactivated by bonding to the ferrous ions. Ferrous dithionite, (FeS.sub.2 O.sub.4) is either generated in-situ or ferrous ions and dithionite ions can be provided by other methods. An alkali metal hydroxide is utilized to precipitate remaining heavy metal ions including ferrous and ferric ions.

Abstract: A process for removing dissolved heavy metal from an aqueous solution is provided where the aqueous solution is mixed with a source of ferrous ion and dithionite ion in a first step at acidic pH to reduce and permit removal of the heavy metal. Solution from the first step is reacted in a second step with hydroxide slurrys obtained from third and fourth steps. A second solution from the second step is reacted in a third step with an alkali composition and a third solution. The third solution is reacted with a chelating agent for iron and an oxidizer in a fourth step. A solution of chelated iron from the fourth step is disposed of.

Abstract: Recovery of cerium values from fluoride-containing ores such as bastnasite is enhanced. The ore is ground, roasted, and leached with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce an ore concentrate. The concentrate is treated with a solution of hydrochloric acid and boric acid to solubilize cerium values and convert fluoride to tetrafluoroborate ion. Tetrafluoroborate is removed from the solution, e.g., by precipitation, and the solution is further processed for recovery of cerium values. Removal of tetrafluoroborate avoids loss of cerium as insoluble cerium tetrafluorborate during said further processing.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for removing fatty acid metal soaps derived from metals with an atomic number from 27 to 29 from hydrogenated fatty products comprising separating solid metal precipitated under the influence of hydrogen at a pressure ranging between 0.05 and 10 MPa from the hydrogenated fatty products. Preferably the hydrogen pressure is between 0.2 and 5 MPa. Preferably the metal is nickel. It is recommended to effect the separation by filtration, using a filter comprising vertical pressure leaves. Also it is possible to treat the hydrogenated fatty product with hydrogen under a pressure between 0.05 and 10 MPa before separating the metal from the fatty product.

Abstract: Heavy metal ions react with ferrous dithionite in acidic aqueous solution. They are reduced to metallic particles that are suitable for recycling and reuse when recovered from the acidic water. When chelating agents are present, they are deactivated by bonding to the ferrous ions. Ferrous dithionite, (FeS.sub.2 O.sub.4) is either generated in-situ or ferrous ions and dithionite ions can be provided by other methods.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing reducing agent such as potassium borohydride or sodium borohydride is added with another solution containing salt of an iron-triads-group element and salt of a rare earth element to conduct reaction to effect reduction to the iron-triads-group metal and the rare earth metal to thereby produce fine powder of rare earth magnet composed of alloy of the iron-triads-group metal and the rare earth metal.

Abstract: Process to obtain ultra fine magnetic Nd-Fe-B particles of various sizes, which can cause a reaction in different kinetic conditions, between compounds of Nd, Fe and B in the sine of micro-emulsions formed by water, oil and a surface-active agent, in different thermodynamic conditions.