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.

The present disclosure teaches magnesium scrap cleaning processes that remove surface oil, grease, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants from dirty, magnesium scrap produced from different machining operations and provide clean magnesium scrap ready for re-melting. The magnesium scrap cleaning processes can reduce the dross produced during re-melting of the magnesium scrap.

The present disclosure teaches magnesium scrap cleaning processes that remove surface oil, grease, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants from dirty, magnesium scrap produced from different machining operations and provide clean magnesium scrap ready for re-melting. The magnesium scrap cleaning processes can reduce the dross produced during re-melting of the magnesium scrap.

A device for producing purified, especially high-purity, magnesium includes a reactor for vacuum distillation that is extended along a longitudinal axis (L). The reactor defines a reactor inner chamber having a heating region for heating magnesium. A crucible forms a crucible inner chamber for receiving purified magnesium vaporized and condensed by the device. A radial projection in the heating region defines a contact surface that extends essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) and forms an essentially sealed connection with an edge of the crucible adjacent to the crucible inner chamber.

A device for producing purified, especially high-purity, magnesium includes a reactor for vacuum distillation that is extended along a longitudinal axis (L). The reactor defines a reactor inner chamber having a heating region for heating magnesium. A crucible forms a crucible inner chamber for receiving purified magnesium vaporized and condensed by the device. A radial projection in the heating region defines a contact surface that extends essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) and forms an essentially sealed connection with an edge of the crucible adjacent to the crucible inner chamber.

The present invention discloses a method for producing high-purity magnesium by semi-continuous distillation, comprising the following steps of: (1) melting crude magnesium or recycled mixed metal containing magnesium containing various impurities in a melting boiler; (2) feeding the molten crude magnesium into a second boiler by a magnesium liquid delivery pump, and maintaining a temperature of 665 C. to 700 C.; (3) sucking the high-temperature magnesium liquid into a crude distillation column in vacuum by a magnetic liquid suction pipe that is inserted into the intermediate boiler and connected to the crude distillation column. Magnesium is condensed into liquid in the rectification column, then discharged from a liquid seal of the rectification column, and ingoted in a refined magnesium die to obtain high-purity magnesium products.

The present invention discloses a method for producing high-purity magnesium by semi-continuous distillation, comprising the following steps of: (1) melting crude magnesium or recycled mixed metal containing magnesium containing various impurities in a melting boiler; (2) feeding the molten crude magnesium into a second boiler by a magnesium liquid delivery pump, and maintaining a temperature of 665 C. to 700 C.; (3) sucking the high-temperature magnesium liquid into a crude distillation column in vacuum by a magnetic liquid suction pipe that is inserted into the intermediate boiler and connected to the crude distillation column. Magnesium is condensed into liquid in the rectification column, then discharged from a liquid seal of the rectification column, and ingoted in a refined magnesium die to obtain high-purity magnesium products.

Provided is a solvent extraction method that allows selectively separating magnesium from an acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. The solvent extraction method includes: bringing an acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid containing nickel, cobalt, and magnesium in contact with an organic solvent to extract the magnesium into the organic solvent; and using the organic solvent produced by diluting an extractant made of alkylphosphonic acid ester with a diluent. A concentration of the extractant is set to 40 volume % or more and 60 volume % or less and a pH of the acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid is set to 1.5 or more and 2.0 or less, or the concentration of the extractant is set to 20 volume % or more and 50 volume % or less and the pH of the acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid is set to 2.0 or more and 2.5 or less.

Provided is a solvent extraction method that allows selectively separating magnesium from an acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. The solvent extraction method includes: bringing an acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid containing nickel, cobalt, and magnesium in contact with an organic solvent to extract the magnesium into the organic solvent; and using the organic solvent produced by diluting an extractant made of alkylphosphonic acid ester with a diluent. A concentration of the extractant is set to 40 volume % or more and 60 volume % or less and a pH of the acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid is set to 1.5 or more and 2.0 or less, or the concentration of the extractant is set to 20 volume % or more and 50 volume % or less and the pH of the acidic aqueous solution of sulfuric acid is set to 2.0 or more and 2.5 or less.

Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.