A method for purifying lutetium includes providing a solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium and subliming or distilling ytterbium from the solid composition at a temperature of about 1196° C. to about 3000° C. to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the solid composition.

Disclosed is a new continuous lithium-sodium separation method. A lithium-sodium separation mother solution, a first leacheate, a desorption solution, a second leacheate and a lithium-sodium separation adsorption tail solution respectively pass through a lithium-sodium separation mother solution feeding pipe (2), a first leacheate feeding pipe (3), a desorption solution feeding pipe (4), a second leacheate feeding pipe (5) and an adsorption tail solution top desorption solution feeding pipe (6) that are located above and below a rotary disc of a multi-way change-over valve system (1), respectively enter corresponding resin columns (7) by means of pore channels and channels in the multi-way change-over valve system (1), and then are discharged from an adsorption tail solution discharging pipe (8), a first leacheate discharging pipe (9), a qualified liquid discharging pipe (10), a second leacheate discharging pipe (11) and an adsorption tail solution top desorption solution discharging pipe (12), so as to complete the whole technological process, wherein the resin columns (7) are connected in series or in parallel by means of the channels located in the multi-way change-over valve system (1). The method is simple and easy to operate, the resin utilization rate is improved by 20% or more, the efficiency is improved by 40% or more, and the production cost can be reduced by 30-50%. The production reliability is improved, and all-year continuous operation can be realized.

The present disclosure provides Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) for selectively sequestering lithium from natural and synthetic brines, leachates, or other chemical mixtures. Also disclosed herein are MRT extractants, ligands, beads and methods of making and using thereof.

Methods for obtaining solid products and combustible gas using aluminum waste are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for obtaining solid products and combustible gas using aluminum waste may comprise: obtaining a reactive mass, the reactive mass comprising aluminum remelting waste or a derivative thereof; applying a solvent to the reactive mass to generate a solution and a first solid product; separating the solution from the first solid product; applying a reactant to at least a portion of the first solid product to initiate a reaction, the reactant being different from the solvent, the reaction generating a combustible gas and a second solid product; and separating the reactant from the second solid product.

The present disclosure provides a lithium extraction apparatus, which includes a frame and a transmission mesh belt. The transmission mesh belt includes water permeable holes, and is configured to carry an adsorbent. The frame includes an adsorption zone and a desorption zone along a traveling direction of the transmission mesh belt. A brine spraying device is disposed above the transmission mesh belt in adsorption zone. A desorbing liquid spraying device is disposed above the transmission mesh belt in the desorption zone, and a lithium extract collecting device is disposed below the transmission mesh belt in the desorption zone. The transmission mesh belt in the adsorption zone is folded into a multi-layer structure in the vertical direction; and/or the transmission mesh belt in the desorption zone is folded into a multi-layer structure in the vertical direction.

The present disclosure relates to redox active materials, such as the compound of formula (I), comprising at least one 2,5-dithio-7-azabicyclo(2.2.1)heptane unit connected to a surface thereof, as well as processes for making said redox active materials. The present disclosure relates to a method for recovering a metal, comprising reacting a metal in oxidized state with said redox active material. The present disclosure relates to uses of these redox active materials in sensors, electronic materials and for extracting metals.

Formation of CaSO.sub.4 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 containing deposits is reduced in a pressure oxidation autoclave and/or adjacent circuits during pressure oxidation of gold-containing ore. The gold-containing ore is combined with water to create an aqueous slurry that is heated and introduced into the autoclave. The method includes providing a scale inhibitor that is free of an organic polymer and includes an inorganic phosphate according to formula (I), (XPO.sub.3).sub.m, wherein X is Na, K, H, or combinations thereof, and m is at least about 6, an inorganic phosphate according to formula (II), Y.sub.n+2P.sub.nO.sub.3n+1, wherein Y is Na, K, H, an organic phosphonate; or combinations thereof, and n is at least about 6. The method includes the step of combining the scale inhibitor and at least one of the gold-containing ore, the water, and the aqueous slurry to reduce scale.

The invention relates to a process for recovering metals from aqueous solutions or solid feedstocks such as ores and waste. In particular, the invention relates to a method of recovering a target metals using a microorganism.

The invention relates to a process for recovering metals from aqueous solutions or solid feedstocks such as ores and waste. In particular, the invention relates to a method of recovering a target metals using a microorganism.

The invention relates to a composition and method for producing a solid extracting agent for extraction of scandium from sulfuric acid solutions. There is provided a solid extracting agent (Solex) for extraction of scandium from scandium-containing solutions comprising a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid. The extracting agent further comprises tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, tributyl phosphate, isododecane, in the following ratio of components, wt. %: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid 32.0-37.5, tri-n-octylphosphine oxide 4.2-8.0, tributyl phosphate 0.8-1.7, isododecane 16.7-20.0, the remainder styrene-divinylbenzene, with the styrene/divinylbenzene ratio in the matrix equal to 75-80 to 20-25 wt. %. There is also provided a method of producing the Solex. The technical result is the production of a scandium-selective Solex with a high dynamic exchange capacity.