A process of extracting copper from copper sulphide minerals which is enhanced at solution potentials exceeding 700 mV SHE, in the absence of any microorganism, by contacting the minerals in a pre-treatment phase using an acid solution at a high chloride content containing dissolved copper.

The present invention relates to use of an amino-containing neutral phosphine extractant of Formula I in extraction and separation of thorium, and a process of extracting and separating thorium using the amino-containing neutral phosphine extractant of Formula I,

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wherein, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-16 alkyl and hydrogen, and n is an integer of 1 to 8.

A metallurgical method for operating an autogenous production circuit for producing metal(s), said method using one or more oxidizing agents generated electrolytically in a cell with one or more interfaces which allows anion exchange; said method comprising steps of: (a) leaching of mineral(s) or material(s) containing at least one metal of interest (LX) in a first cell (A) to produce a pregnant leach solution (2) and an acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8); (b) using solvent extraction process(es) or selection process(es) in a second cell (B) to concentrate said metal(s) of interest (SX) of said pregnant leach solution (2) to produce a rich electrolyte (5) and a raffinate solution (4), said raffinate solution (4) being recycled in said first cell (A); and (c) electrowinning (EW) in a third cell (C) of said rich electrolyte (5) received from said second cell (B) and said acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8) received from said first cell (A), for producing a metal cathode (6) and an acid-ferric acid solution (9), said acid-ferric acid solution (9) being recycled in said first cell (A), wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in said autogenous circuit that includes said first, second and third cells (A, B, C) with one or more anionic interfaces producing anodic and cathode reactions.

A metallurgical method for operating an autogenous production circuit for producing metal(s), said method using one or more oxidizing agents generated electrolytically in a cell with one or more interfaces which allows anion exchange; said method comprising steps of: (a) leaching of mineral(s) or material(s) containing at least one metal of interest (LX) in a first cell (A) to produce a pregnant leach solution (2) and an acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8); (b) using solvent extraction process(es) or selection process(es) in a second cell (B) to concentrate said metal(s) of interest (SX) of said pregnant leach solution (2) to produce a rich electrolyte (5) and a raffinate solution (4), said raffinate solution (4) being recycled in said first cell (A); and (c) electrowinning (EW) in a third cell (C) of said rich electrolyte (5) received from said second cell (B) and said acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8) received from said first cell (A), for producing a metal cathode (6) and an acid-ferric acid solution (9), said acid-ferric acid solution (9) being recycled in said first cell (A), wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in said autogenous circuit that includes said first, second and third cells (A, B, C) with one or more anionic interfaces producing anodic and cathode reactions.

Processing schemes for the extraction and/or separation of rare earth elements (REEs) from rare earth containing products such as rare earth mineral ore bodies and intermediate products derived from rare earth mineral ore bodies. The processing schemes may be applied independently or in various combinations to produce end-products that have a very high purity with respect to REEs, including high value critical REEs. The processes may include acid digestion, formation of rare earth oxalate compounds, metathesizing of rare earth oxalate compounds, selective precipitation and/or solvent extraction to form the high purity REE end products.

Disclosed are a sealed cobalt leaching device, a reagent for the cobalt leaching, a method using the device, and use of the method. The sealed cobalt leaching device includes a base, where a top of the base is provided with a first groove; a chemical solution holding tool is provided above the base; a bottom of the chemical solution holding tool is removably connected to the base; a holding through-hole penetrating up and down is formed inside the chemical solution holding tool; and a sealing cover is provided above the chemical solution holding tool. Beneficial effects of the present disclosure: Through the combination of the base, the chemical solution holding tool, and the sealing cover, the holding through-hole inside the chemical solution holding tool is sealed, thereby improving the cobalt leaching temperature and the cobalt leaching efficiency.

The present invention relates to a process for purifying and concentrating rare earths contained in phosphogypsum, characterised in that it comprises the following steps of: from a phosphogypsum, a) Leaching the phosphogypsum with a solution of one or more strong acid(s) selected from among: sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, in order to obtain a leaching mixture comprising a liquid phase formed by a leaching solution containing rare earths from the phosphogypsum and the leaching acid, and a solid phase comprising the phosphogypsum, b) Adding, to the phosphogypsum, an oxidising agent to promote passage of the rare earths from the phosphogypsum into the leaching solution, and/or a reducing agent to reduce solubility of mineral impurities contained in the leaching solution in order to allow their passage from the leaching solution into the solid phase, c) Separating the liquid phase enriched in rare earths and depleted in mineral impurities, and the solid phase enriched in mineral impurities.

The present invention relates to recovery of lithium from liquid resources to produce lithium solutions while limiting impurity precipitation in the lithium solutions.

A process for recovering a precious metal from a precious metal containing article or composition is disclosed. The process comprises treating the precious metal containing article or composition with an oxidant composition under conditions to oxidise the precious metal in the precious metal containing article or composition to obtain a precious metal salt composition. The precious metal salt composition is then contacted with a sorbent under conditions to adsorb at least some of the precious metal salt to the sorbent to obtain a laden sorbent. At least some of the precious metal is then recovered from the laden sorbent. Alternatively, the precious metal is recovered from the precious metal salt composition by chemical reduction, electrochemical reduction and/or chemical precipitation.

A process for recovering a precious metal from a precious metal containing article or composition is disclosed. The process comprises treating the precious metal containing article or composition with an oxidant composition under conditions to oxidise the precious metal in the precious metal containing article or composition to obtain a precious metal salt composition. The precious metal salt composition is then contacted with a sorbent under conditions to adsorb at least some of the precious metal salt to the sorbent to obtain a laden sorbent. At least some of the precious metal is then recovered from the laden sorbent. Alternatively, the precious metal is recovered from the precious metal salt composition by chemical reduction, electrochemical reduction and/or chemical precipitation.