Ben W Wiegers

US Patent:

46004351, Jul 15, 1986

Filed:

Aug 24, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/643998

Inventors:

Ben W. Wiegers - Wilmer AL
Eddie C. J. Chou - Arvada CO
John D. Bruno - Golden CO
Helen S. Leaver - Pine CO

Assignee:

AMAX Inc. - Greenwich CT

International Classification:

C22B 2304

US Classification:

75119

Abstract:

Nickel and cobalt contained in aqueous sulfate solution are separately recovered by counter-current solvent extraction using a cobalt-selective organic extractant while scaling of equipment and cobalt recycle are minimized by controlling aqueous pH at the extraction, scrubbing and stripping stages to maximize cobalt loading and selectivity of the extractant while loading scale-causing ions such as calcium and magnesium in the extractant and removing them from the circuit with the aqueous cobalt strip solution.

US Patent:

45445419, Oct 1, 1985

Filed:

Jun 14, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/620670

Inventors:

Eddie C. Chou - Arvada CO
Ben W. Wiegers - Wilmer AL
Dale K. Huggins - Golden CO
Edward I. Wiewiorowski - New Orleans LA

Assignee:

AMAX Inc. - Greenwich CT

International Classification:

C01B 1900

US Classification:

423508

Abstract:

A process is provided for removing hexavalent selenium from an acidic sulfate solution containing at least one metal ion from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and copper at ambient pressure and at a temperature not exceeding the boiling point of the solution. The solution is treated with an agent from the group consisting of a compound which will produce nascent hydrogen in the solution and finely divided metal from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and copper resulting from in situ precipitation of the metal in the acid sulfate solution. Thus, following treatment with the compound, the hexavalent selenium is reduced to a form separable from the solution by solid-liquid separation.