The present invention refers to the recovery of high-value metals such as gold and silver from ores containing them by the leaching process that is carried out in tanks or reactors, and to the destruction of cyanide, which is carried out in cyanide destruction (detox) tanks at the end of the leaching process, to avoid damage to the environment. An oxygen diffuser with a specific design is provided which is used in pulp leaching tanks and in cyanide destruction (detox) tanks containing residual pulp, with the application of oxygen, whereby better results are obtained in the recovery of metals, in the application of oxygen and in retention time, among others.

Weak acid lixiviants are used to selectively extract calcium from various sources (e.g., steel slag, impure lime, dolomite). Preferably, non-amine weak acids (e.g., weak acids that do not include an amine) as lixiviants are used. Such lixiviants can be used in stoichiometric quantities relative to calcium content of the calcium source material.

Methods for processing black mass material from lithium-ion battery recycling processes include fractionating the black mass into a lithium fraction, a graphite fraction, and a concentrated metal powder fraction. This is accomplished using a multiphase liquid blend of nonpolar hydrophobic solvent and water to dissolve the lithium and produce a multiphase admixture which, upon gravity separation, produces a graphite layer in the hydrophobic solvent and a mixed metal powder layer that sinks to the bottom of the aqueous layer.

A lixiviant medium for extracting gold from a gold-containing solid material contains a polyether-modified siloxane and a non-ionic surfactant. The lixiviant medium can be used in a method of extracting gold from a gold-containing solid material. The lixiviant medium can be prepared from a composition containing a non-ionic surfactant and a polyether-modified siloxane. A method of preparing the lixiviant medium involves mixing the composition with an alkali metal cyanide, a pH regulator suitable for setting a pH of the composition to a value of 9 or higher, and water.

A lixiviant medium for extracting gold from a gold-containing solid material contains a polyether-modified siloxane and a non-ionic surfactant. The lixiviant medium can be used in a method of extracting gold from a gold-containing solid material. The lixiviant medium can be prepared from a composition containing a non-ionic surfactant and a polyether-modified siloxane. A method of preparing the lixiviant medium involves mixing the composition with an alkali metal cyanide, a pH regulator suitable for setting a pH of the composition to a value of 9 or higher, and water.

The present application relates to methods for the simultaneous leaching and extraction of precious metals. For example, the present application relates to methods of leaching and extracting gold and/or palladium from a substance comprising gold and/or palladium such as a gold and/or palladium-containing ore in one step using a compound of Formula I: (I).

The present application relates to methods for the simultaneous leaching and extraction of precious metals. For example, the present application relates to methods of leaching and extracting gold and/or palladium from a substance comprising gold and/or palladium such as a gold and/or palladium-containing ore in one step using a compound of Formula I: (I).

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the recovery and extraction of rare earth elements. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for separating rare earth elements from coal, coal by-product(s), and/or coal-derived product(s). In an embodiment, a method of removing rare earth elements from a coal-derived product is provided. The method generally includes introducing supercritical CO.sub.2 to the coal ash to form a first mixture, introducing a first acid to the first mixture to form a second mixture, and removing a first composition from the second mixture, the first composition comprising the one or more rare earth elements.

One or more embodiments relates to a process for extracting Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from REE-bearing underclays, claystones, shales, coal-mining waste, and waste coal. In at least one embodiment the process includes contacting the REE-bearing underclays, claystones, shales, coal-mining waste, and waste coal with an Organic Acid Solution (OAS) comprising at least one organic acid and at least one ionic salt at a predetermined ambient temperature and predetermined pH; and separating the REE from the REE-bearing underclays, claystones, shales, coal-mining waste, and waste coal, forming REE+Yttrium (REY) concentrate.

A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing material is provided. The method includes agglomerating the metal-bearing material with an agglomeration solution, which contains a raffinate and hydrogen peroxide, to form an agglomerated metal-bearing material. The method further includes leaching the agglomerated metal-bearing material with a leaching solution, which contains the raffinate and citric acid, to produce a pregnant leaching solution. The method further includes recovering the metal value from the pregnant leaching solution to produce the raffinate.