Collector compositions C for mineral flotation, which include at least one of a hydroxamic acid A, and/or a salt S of a hydroxamic acid A solubilized in a water-soluble organic solvent L, and processes for using same for recovering sulfide and/or oxide minerals in mineral flotation processes are provided herewith.

The present application offers a solution to the current problems associated with recovery and recycling of precious metals from scrap material, discard articles, and other items comprising one or more precious metals. The solution is premised on a microporous chelating polymeric membrane. Embodiments include, but are not limited to, microporous chelating polymeric membranes, device comprising the membranes, and methods of using and making the same.

Exemplary methods provide for recovery of valuable industrial metals in connection with recycling of silicon solar cells and modules. Silicon, copper, silver, and the like may be recovered separately, allowing for cost-effective recycling for silicon solar cells and modules.

Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

Disclosed in the present invention is a method for extracting nickel from a high matte nickel leaching residue. The method comprises: firstly, adding a crushed material of a high matte nickel leaching residue to an organic solvent in which sulfur is dissolved, heating same for reaction, and carrying out solid-liquid separation to obtain a first filtrate and a first filter residue; adding the first filter residue to a copper sulfate solution, heating same for reaction, and carrying out solid-liquid separation to obtain a second filtrate and a second filter residue; and evaporating, condensing and concentrating the second filtrate, and filtering same to obtain copper sulfate crystals and a nickel-containing filtrate. Throughout the whole reaction, only a small amount of sulfur and copper sulfate are consumed, and the organic solvent can be recycled.

The present invention provides a method of recovering copper and zinc from an aqueous sulfate and chloride containing solution. In the first process step zinc and copper are simultaneous extracting with an extraction solution comprising a liquid chelating cation exchanger and a liquid anion exchanger. The extraction is followed by consecutive stripping stages. First the anionic species are washed from the organic phase with one or more aqueous solutions and finally the copper is stripped with an aqueous acidic solution.

Methods and systems for removing polar compounds from a metal-containing solution. According to various example aspects, methods and systems for removing hydrolysis byproducts and other polar compounds from a metal-loaded organic solution of a solvent extraction process.

Exemplary methods provide for recovery of valuable industrial metals in connection with recycling of silicon solar cells and modules. Silicon, copper, silver, and the like may be recovered separately, allowing for cost-effective recycling for silicon solar cells and modules.

A method of operating a concentrator may comprise producing a final copper concentrate and periodically or continuously analyzing the produced final copper concentrate to obtain a grade value of the produced final copper concentrate. The produced final copper concentrate may be sent to a downstream smelting operation if/when the grade value of the produced final copper concentrate is at or above a minimum acceptable grade threshold and may be sent to a downstream hydrometallurgical operation capable of producing copper cathode, if/when the grade value of the produced final copper concentrate is below or falls below the minimum acceptable grade threshold.