A method for separating metal components from a treatment material containing a silicate and metal elements includes: a reaction step of reacting the treatment material and a molten alkali hydroxide in which bubbles due to water vapor derived from water are generated by heating a hydroxide of an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal and the water in a state where the hydroxide and the water coexist, to obtain a reaction product; and a first precipitation step of dissolving the reaction product of the treatment material and the molten alkali hydroxide after the reaction step in water, thereby generating a precipitate containing the metal elements.

The invention provides a process for recovering precious metal from an aqueous solution comprising thiosulfate and at least one precious metal selected from gold and silver, the process comprising: introducing a soluble reducing agent to the aqueous solution in excess of any oxidants present in the aqueous solution; contacting the aqueous solution with a cementation substrate comprising a metallic composition comprising a base metal, wherein the precious metal is reduced in the presence of the reducing agent and the cementation substrate so that reduced precious metal deposits on the cementation substrate to form a precious metal cementation product; separating the precious metal cementation product from a precious metal-lean aqueous solution comprising the thiosulfate; and recovering precious metal from the precious metal cementation product.

The invention provides a process for recovering precious metal from an aqueous solution comprising thiosulfate and at least one precious metal selected from gold and silver, the process comprising: introducing a soluble reducing agent to the aqueous solution in excess of any oxidants present in the aqueous solution; contacting the aqueous solution with a cementation substrate comprising a metallic composition comprising a base metal, wherein the precious metal is reduced in the presence of the reducing agent and the cementation substrate so that reduced precious metal deposits on the cementation substrate to form a precious metal cementation product; separating the precious metal cementation product from a precious metal-lean aqueous solution comprising the thiosulfate; and recovering precious metal from the precious metal cementation product.

Disclosed is method of leaching at least one desired element from feed material containing feed material fines, which includes combining such a feed material with a pulping solution comprising a liquid and a solution-hydrated or a solution-soluble polymer to form a treated slurry, with the polymer configured to predominantly capture at least part of the feed material fines prior to their settling out of the liquid slurry matrix, and with the polymer being added to the feed material in a predetermined ratio of polymer to feed material. The treated slurry is deposited in a deposition cell for leaching and further treatment. Also disclosed is a composition of a treated slurry, and treating any one or more of the feed material, the treated slurry or the deposited treated slurry with sulphide consuming bacteria.

Disclosed is method of leaching at least one desired element from feed material containing feed material fines, which includes combining such a feed material with a pulping solution comprising a liquid and a solution-hydrated or a solution-soluble polymer to form a treated slurry, with the polymer configured to predominantly capture at least part of the feed material fines prior to their settling out of the liquid slurry matrix, and with the polymer being added to the feed material in a predetermined ratio of polymer to feed material. The treated slurry is deposited in a deposition cell for leaching and further treatment. Also disclosed is a composition of a treated slurry, and treating any one or more of the feed material, the treated slurry or the deposited treated slurry with sulphide consuming bacteria.

A method and apparatus of preparing lithium compound(s) from lithium-containing mineral includes a) a leaching step, wherein the lithium-containing mineral is leached in aqueous leach solution containing alkaline carbonate, for liberating lithium and phosphate(s) from the lithium-containing mineral, thus obtaining leach slurry containing lithium carbonate and phosphate(s) leach slurry, b) a carbonization step, wherein the leach slurry containing lithium carbonate and phosphate(s), obtained from the leaching step, is reacted with an alkali earth metal compound in the presence of CO.sub.2 for obtaining a carbonated slurry containing lithium hydrogen carbonate, and for precipitating phosphate(s) contained in the leach slurry as insoluble phosphate compound(s), c) a solid-liquid separation step, wherein the carbonated slurry obtained from carbonization step is subjected to solid-liquid separation wherein the undissolved mineral and phosphate compound(s) are separated as solids that can be recovered or discarded, thereby obtaining a solution containing lithium hydrogen carbonate.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for recycling lead-acid batteries, and more specifically, relates to purifying and recycling the lead content from lead-acid batteries. A system includes a reactor that receives and mixes a lead-beating material waste, a carboxylate source, and a recycled liquid component to form a leaching mixture yielding a lead carboxylate precipitate. The system also includes a phase separation device coupled to the reactor, wherein the phase separation device isolates the lead carboxylate precipitate from a liquid component of the leaching mixture. The system further includes a closed-loop liquid recycling system coupled to the phase separation device and to the reactor, wherein the closed-loop liquid recycling, system receives the liquid component isolated by the phase separation device and recycles a substantial portion of the received liquid component back to the reactor as the recycled liquid component.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for recycling lead-acid batteries, and more specifically, relates to purifying and recycling the lead content from lead-acid batteries. A system includes a reactor that receives and mixes a lead-beating material waste, a carboxylate source, and a recycled liquid component to form a leaching mixture yielding a lead carboxylate precipitate. The system also includes a phase separation device coupled to the reactor, wherein the phase separation device isolates the lead carboxylate precipitate from a liquid component of the leaching mixture. The system further includes a closed-loop liquid recycling system coupled to the phase separation device and to the reactor, wherein the closed-loop liquid recycling, system receives the liquid component isolated by the phase separation device and recycles a substantial portion of the received liquid component back to the reactor as the recycled liquid component.

Ion exchange resin macroporous beads for the highly selective extraction of univalent anions from aqueous solutions. A specific example is the removal of dicyanoaurate and dicyanoargentate from cyanide leach solutions and tailings. The beads have a maximum number of ligands specific for the desired univalent anion, while maintaining sufficient separation to minimize binding of polyvalent ions. The beads are prepared using a functionalized monomer with the use of a specifically tuned coordinator. The beads can be used as a sensor for detecting the amount of anions captured when interrogated by an appropriate light source.

Ion exchange resin macroporous beads for the highly selective extraction of univalent anions from aqueous solutions. A specific example is the removal of dicyanoaurate and dicyanoargentate from cyanide leach solutions and tailings. The beads have a maximum number of ligands specific for the desired univalent anion, while maintaining sufficient separation to minimize binding of polyvalent ions. The beads are prepared using a functionalized monomer with the use of a specifically tuned coordinator. The beads can be used as a sensor for detecting the amount of anions captured when interrogated by an appropriate light source.