The invention provides a method for reducing impurities from roasted molybdenum concentrate (RMC), comprising: performing a first treatment in a first reactor, on a portion of the RMC forming a first treated suspension, the first treatment comprises adding the portion of the RMC to a water-solution, wherein the first treated suspension has a temperature from 10° C. to 100° C. and a first pH value of from 2.1 to 5.0; performing a second treatment in a second reactor on a portion of the first treated suspension, the second treatment comprises adding the portion of the first treated suspension to an acid solution to form the second treated suspension, wherein the portion of the first treated suspension has a temperature <70° C., and wherein the second treated suspension has a second pH value between 1.5 and the first pH value; and separating a portion of the second treated suspension from the reactors.

The invention provides an automated method for isolating a targeted isotope, the method having the steps of supplying a dissolved uranium targets into a first reaction environment; precipitating non-targeted isotope within the first reaction environment transferring liquid phase targeted isotope to a second reaction environment; precipitating the liquid phase targeted isotope in the second reaction environment; dissolving the precipitated targeted isotope; transferring the dissolved targeted isotope to a third reaction environment; and precipitating non-targeted isotope (i.e., iodine), such that the targeted isotope remains in the solution. Also provided is an automated system for isolating isotopes, the system having a plurality of reaction environments adapted to pneumatically receive and disgorge reactants and products via remotely actuated valves positioned between each of the reaction environments.

Methods for purifying the molybdenum-99 isotope are disclosed. Molybdenum-99 is loaded onto an anion exchange column and extracted. In some embodiments, the extraction solution may include nitric acid and nitrate salts. In other embodiments, a two stage elution is performed in which a nitric acid containing eluent and a hydroxide containing eluent are used in succession to extract molybdenum-99.

A copper/molybdenum separation processor is provide featuring a slurry/media mixture stage configured to receive a conditioned pulp containing hydrophobic molybdenite and hydrophilic copper, iron and other minerals that is conditioned with sodium hydrosulfide together with an engineered polymeric hydrophobic media, and provide a slurry/media mixture; and a slurry/media separation stage configured to receive the slurry/media mixture, and provide a slurry product having a copper concentrate and a polymerized hydrophobic media product having a molybdenum concentrate that are separately directed for further processing. The slurry/media mixture stage include a molybdenum loading stage configured to contact the conditioned pulp with the engineered polymeric hydrophobic media in an agitated reaction chamber, and load the hydrophobic molybdenite on the engineered polymeric hydrophobic media.

Provided are a method of synthesizing molybdenum dioxide (MoO.sub.2) directly onto a metal substrate to form a coating on the surface of the substrate, products having a coated metal surface produced by the disclosed method, and their uses to decontaminate water and/or air. The coated metal surface disclosed herein also may be used as a structural component of a Li-ion battery, a supercapacitor, or a sensor for detecting a molecule.

A copper/molybdenum separation processor is provided featuring a slurry/media mixture stage configured to receive a conditioned pulp containing hydrophobic molybdenite and hydrophilic copper, iron and other minerals that is conditioned with sodium hydrosulfide together with an engineered polymeric hydrophobic media, and provide a slurry/media mixture; and a slurry/media separation stage configured to receive the slurry/media mixture, and provide a slurry product having a copper concentrate and a polymerized hydrophobic media product having a molybdenum concentrate that are separately directed for further processing. The slurry/media mixture stage include a molybdenum loading stage configured to contact the conditioned pulp with the engineered polymeric hydrophobic media in an agitated reaction chamber, and load the hydrophobic molybdenite on the engineered polymeric hydrophobic media.

Provided are methods to separate an isotope from a first solution including uranium. The methods may include (a) cleaning the first solution to form a second solution including the uranium and a third solution including the isotope; (b) oxidizing the third solution to form an oxidized isotope; and (c) separating the oxidized isotope.

Methods for purifying the molybdenum-99 isotope are disclosed. Molybdenum-99 is loaded onto an anion exchange column and extracted. In some embodiments, the extraction solution may include nitric acid and nitrate salts. In other embodiments, a two stage elution is performed in which a nitric acid containing eluent and a hydroxide containing eluent are used in succession to extract molybdenum-99.

A copper/molybdenum separation processor is provided featuring a slurry/media mixture stage configured to receive a conditioned pulp containing hydrophobic molybdenite and hydrophilic copper, iron and other minerals that is conditioned with sodium hydrosulfide together with an engineered polymeric hydrophobic media, and provide a slurry/media mixture; and a slurry/media separation stage configured to receive the slurry/media mixture, and provide a slurry product having a copper concentrate and a polymerized hydrophobic media product having a molybdenum concentrate that are separately directed for further processing. The slurry/media mixture stage include a molybdenum loading stage configured to contact the conditioned pulp with the engineered polymeric hydrophobic media in an agitated reaction chamber, and load the hydrophobic molybdenite on the engineered polymeric hydrophobic media.

The disclosure describes a method of separating and recovering valuable metals from remanufacturing solution of a spent desulfurization catalyst containing vanadium, and more particularly, to a method of separating and recovering a valuable metal from remanufacturing solution of a spent desulfurization catalyst containing vanadium, which includes: adding organic acid to a spent hydrodesulfurization catalyst after collecting the spent hydrodesulfurization catalyst in order to prepare the remanufacturing solution of the spent hydrodesulfurization catalyst; adding an extracting agent and a diluent to the remanufacturing solution to extract molybdenum and extracting vanadium from an extracted filtrate to obtain an organic phase; and adding a stripping agent to the organic phase to strip and recover vanadium.