This application pertains to methods of recovering metals from metal sulfides that involve contacting the metal sulfide with an acidic sulfate solution containing ferric sulfate and a reagent that has a thiocarbonyl functional group, wherein the concentration of reagent in the acidic sulfate solution is sufficient to increase the rate of metal ion extraction relative to an acidic sulfate solution that does not contain the reagent, to produce a pregnant solution containing the metal ions.

A method for separating a light rare earth element and a heavy rare earth element includes at least the steps of: (1) obtaining, from a workpiece containing a light rare earth element and a heavy rare earth element, a composite oxide or mixture of oxides of the two; (2) dissolving the obtained composite oxide or mixture of oxides in hydrochloric acid and/or nitric acid; (3) adding a precipitant to the obtained solution to give a precipitate; (4) calcining the obtained precipitate; (5) adding the obtained calcine in an amount of 1.1 times to 3.0 times the upper solubility limit to hydrochloric acid and/or nitric acid having a concentration of 0.7 mol/L or more to give a solution and a residue; and (6) separating the obtained solution and residue, thereby giving the solution as a light rare earth element-rich inclusion and the residue as a heavy rare earth element-rich inclusion.

A method for separating a light rare earth element and a heavy rare earth element includes at least the steps of: (1) obtaining, from a workpiece containing a light rare earth element and a heavy rare earth element, a composite oxide or mixture of oxides of the two; (2) dissolving the obtained composite oxide or mixture of oxides in hydrochloric acid and/or nitric acid; (3) adding a precipitant to the obtained solution to give a precipitate; (4) calcining the obtained precipitate; (5) adding the obtained calcine in an amount of 1.1 times to 3.0 times the upper solubility limit to hydrochloric acid and/or nitric acid having a concentration of 0.7 mol/L or more to give a solution and a residue; and (6) separating the obtained solution and residue, thereby giving the solution as a light rare earth element-rich inclusion and the residue as a heavy rare earth element-rich inclusion.

A method of selective extracting exchangeable strontium and barium from sediments, comprising, collecting a predetermined quantity of a sedimentary sample, removing biogenic clasts from the predetermined quantity of the sedimentary sample to provide a coarse filtered sedimentary sample, baking the coarse filtered sedimentary sample at a temperature less than 105 C., crushing the coarse filtered sedimentary sample to yield a fine filtered sedimentary sample having a sample grain size of less than 100 mesh, reacting a portion of the fine filtered sedimentary sample in a solution containing at least one of an ammonium acetate reactant and a sodium acetate reactant, measuring a strontium level within a liquid product of the solution, measuring a barium level within the liquid product of the solution and determining a ratio of the strontium level and the barium level of the liquid product.

A method of selective extracting exchangeable strontium and barium from sediments, comprising, collecting a predetermined quantity of a sedimentary sample, removing biogenic clasts from the predetermined quantity of the sedimentary sample to provide a coarse filtered sedimentary sample, baking the coarse filtered sedimentary sample at a temperature less than 105 C., crushing the coarse filtered sedimentary sample to yield a fine filtered sedimentary sample having a sample grain size of less than 100 mesh, reacting a portion of the fine filtered sedimentary sample in a solution containing at least one of an ammonium acetate reactant and a sodium acetate reactant, measuring a strontium level within a liquid product of the solution, measuring a barium level within the liquid product of the solution and determining a ratio of the strontium level and the barium level of the liquid product.

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.

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.

Presented herein is a ligand-assisted elution chromatography process for the separation of metal ions using a sorbent. In particular, the present invention discloses a process of two sets of column system in combination with two sets of eluting ligand solutions to prepare substantially pure rare earth elements, wherein the first set of column comprises strong acid cation exchange resins and the second set of chromatographic columns comprises hydrous polyvalent metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, or SnO.sub.2 and wherein ligand of said second ligand solution coordinates with said hydrous polyvalent metal oxide.

A method of separating scandium from a feedstock wherein a scandium enriched solution is produced from the feedstock and the scandium enriched solution is extracted to produce an organic phase of the scandium enriched solution. The organic phase of the scandium enriched solution is re-extracted to produce an aqueous phase including scandium chloride. The aqueous phase is precipitated and calcinated to produce scandium oxide powder.

A method of separating scandium from a feedstock wherein a scandium enriched solution is produced from the feedstock and the scandium enriched solution is extracted to produce an organic phase of the scandium enriched solution. The organic phase of the scandium enriched solution is re-extracted to produce an aqueous phase including scandium chloride. The aqueous phase is precipitated and calcinated to produce scandium oxide powder.