A method for separating and recovering materials from an electrochemical cell by dissolution in multiple solvents, separation of dissolved constituents, and recovery of materials.

An apparatus for treating wastewater, for the recovery of metals contained therein, includes a first pump, a second pump, and a heating element, of which the input is connected to the first pump and the output to a mixer.

The mixer, of which a first input is connected to the heating element, a second input to the second pump, and an output to a cooling element, the input of the cooling element being connected to the mixer and the output to a depressurization component.

The input of the depressurization component is connected to the cooling element and the output to liquid/solid separation element.

The input of the liquid/solid separation component is connected to the depressurization component.

An apparatus for treating wastewater, for the recovery of metals contained therein, includes a first pump, a second pump, and a heating element, of which the input is connected to the first pump and the output to a mixer.

The mixer, of which a first input is connected to the heating element, a second input to the second pump, and an output to a cooling element, the input of the cooling element being connected to the mixer and the output to a depressurization component.

The input of the depressurization component is connected to the cooling element and the output to liquid/solid separation element.

The input of the liquid/solid separation component is connected to the depressurization component.

The present invention encompasses a method of selectively separating Ga from wastewaters with the aid of a dialysis method. This exploits the particular complexation behaviour of Ga, which forms an unstable tetrahalo complex. This forms only in the case of a sufficiently high halide concentration. Since the halide concentration becomes lower across the membrane, the Ga-tetrahalo complex breaks down in the membrane, as a result of which the Ga is retained. Other metals such as In and Fe do not show this behaviour, and therefore the tetrahalo complexes of these metals can pass through the membrane and hence can be selectively separated off.

The present invention encompasses a method of selectively separating Ga from wastewaters with the aid of a dialysis method. This exploits the particular complexation behaviour of Ga, which forms an unstable tetrahalo complex. This forms only in the case of a sufficiently high halide concentration. Since the halide concentration becomes lower across the membrane, the Ga-tetrahalo complex breaks down in the membrane, as a result of which the Ga is retained. Other metals such as In and Fe do not show this behaviour, and therefore the tetrahalo complexes of these metals can pass through the membrane and hence can be selectively separated off.

Contemplated is a sensor system for use with a measuring device. The measuring device being of the type adapted to measure the volume of a desired solid component in a sample volume of a solid-liquid slurry obtained from either a carbon-in-pulp or carbon-in-leach process. The solid-liquid slurry comprises granular carbon particles, ore pulp, and water. The carbon-in-pulp or carbon-in-leach process includes at least one retention tank. The measurement device including: a receptacle for receiving the sample volume of the slurry; a screen provided in the receptacle for separating out the desired solid component from a remainder of the slurry. The solid component is retained in the receptacle to form a bed therein and the remainder is exhausted from the receptacle. The sensor system measures in either the retained solid component, or the exhausted remainder, or both one of: pH; dissolved oxygen; pulp density or carbon content.

A method of treating a waste liquid includes: an aluminum dissolution step of dissolving aluminum in an acidic waste liquid and performing separation into a first treated water and a reduced heavy metal precipitate; a gypsum recovery step of adding a calcium compound to the first treated water at a liquid property of a pH of 4 or less, and performing separation into a second treated water and gypsum; an aluminum and fluorine removal step of adding an alkali to the second treated water and performing separation into a third treated water and a precipitate containing aluminum and fluorine; and a neutralization step of adding an alkali to the third treated water and performing separation into an alkali neutralization treated water and a neutralized precipitate of a heavy metal hydroxide.

The present invention relates to a method for recovering lithium from brine, and provides a method for recovering lithium from brine, the method comprising: (a) an impurity removal step of adding a carbonate supply source to brine including lithium, magnesium and calcium to precipitate and remove magnesium and calcium impurities; (b) a pH adjusting step of adding an acid to the brine from which the impurities have been removed, to adjust the pH of the brine; (c) a lithium-aluminum compound recovery step of adding an aluminum supply source to the pH-adjusted brine to recover a lithium-aluminum compound; (d) a lithium sulfate and aluminum oxide formation step of adding the lithium-aluminum compound to a sulfur supply source and calcining same to form lithium sulfate and aluminum oxide; and (e) a lithium sulfate solution yield step of selectively dissolving lithium sulfate from among the formed lithium sulfate and aluminum oxide to yield a lithium sulfate solution.

The present invention relates to a method for recovering lithium from brine, and provides a method for recovering lithium from brine, the method comprising: (a) an impurity removal step of adding a carbonate supply source to brine including lithium, magnesium and calcium to precipitate and remove magnesium and calcium impurities; (b) a pH adjusting step of adding an acid to the brine from which the impurities have been removed, to adjust the pH of the brine; (c) a lithium-aluminum compound recovery step of adding an aluminum supply source to the pH-adjusted brine to recover a lithium-aluminum compound; (d) a lithium sulfate and aluminum oxide formation step of adding the lithium-aluminum compound to a sulfur supply source and calcining same to form lithium sulfate and aluminum oxide; and (e) a lithium sulfate solution yield step of selectively dissolving lithium sulfate from among the formed lithium sulfate and aluminum oxide to yield a lithium sulfate solution.

The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.