A process for the winning of at least one of gold, silver, and at least one platinum metal includes introducing at least one starting material containing at least one of gold, silver, and at least one platinum metal into an aqueous solution containing at least one nitrile, and producing hydroxyl radicals in the aqueous solution.

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.

The invention relates to a method for extracting rare earth elements contained in permanent magnets, which includes the steps of thermal treatment of the permanent magnet, crushing at the end of the thermal treatment in order to obtain particles with a size smaller than 2 mm, treatment by agitation of the particles in a solution containing an organic acid, and separation of the liquid phase from the solid phase.

A solution for leaching metals from clay containing ore and a method of leaching ore is described. The solution comprises a cyanide; a wetting agent; and a clay stabilizing polymer.

A method for removing metal and/or precious metal-containing depositions from substrates, wherein said substrate is subjected to treatment with an organo amine protectant component P and an inorganic active component A. Component P may be formed in situ by reaction with component R. Component P is an organic amine and/or organic amine hydrohalide and/or organic ammonium halide (preferably diisopropylamine hydrochloride), component A is an inorganic compound (preferably inorganic acid or a mixture thereof) and component R is an organic compound that can be split along the C—N bond by the component A into an organic amine (preferably dimethylformamide or N-methyl pyrrolidone). The metals in the form of organo-metallic complexes and/or metalorganic compounds are isolated and/or separated by means of different chemical reactions (preferably reduction reactions) and/or biosorption (preferably with seaweed or yeast). The isolated and/or separated organo-metallic complexes and/or metalorganic compounds are subjected to refinement process to form pure metals and/or pure precious metals. The substrates remain intact after the treatment.

The present disclosure provides Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) technology for selectively sequestering one or more target molecules from chemical mixtures. Also disclosed herein are MIP beads and methods of making and using thereof.

Lead is recycled from lead paste of lead acid batteries in a process that employs alkaline desulfurization followed by formation of plumbite that is then electrolytically converted to pure lead. Remaining insoluble lead dioxide is removed from the lead plumbite solution and reduced to produce lead oxide that can be fed back to the recovery system. Sulfate is recovered as sodium sulfate, while the so produced lead oxide can be added to lead paste for recovery.

Lead is recycled from lead paste of lead acid batteries in a process that employs alkaline desulfurization followed by formation of plumbite that is then electrolytically converted to pure lead. Remaining insoluble lead dioxide is removed from the lead plumbite solution and reduced to produce lead oxide that can be fed back to the recovery system. Sulfate is recovered as sodium sulfate, while the so produced lead oxide can be added to lead paste for recovery.

A method for extracting a metal of interest from a mineral substrate comprising: 1) providing a mineral substrate containing a metal of interest, 2) contacting the mineral substrate with a leaching medium comprising a pH reducing microorganism and/or an acid or proton produced by a pH reducing microorganism, and 3) recovering a leachate comprising the metal of interest.

A method for extracting a metal of interest from a mineral substrate comprising: 1) providing a mineral substrate containing a metal of interest, 2) contacting the mineral substrate with a leaching medium comprising a pH reducing microorganism and/or an acid or proton produced by a pH reducing microorganism, and 3) recovering a leachate comprising the metal of interest.