Method for selectively leaching metal values from ocean floor nodules
Abstract
Abstract METHOD FOR RECOVERING METAL VALUES FROM OCEAN FLOOR MODULES OF THE TYPE CONTAINING IRON, MAGANESE, COPPER COBALT AND NICKEL COMPRISING GRINDING THE NODULES INTO PARTICLES, SUBJECTING THE GROUND NODULES TO A FIRST LEACHING STEP WHICH DISSOLVES COPPER AND NICKEL, AFTER WHICH THE SOLIDS ARE SEPARATED, THEN SUBJECTING THE LEACH LIQUOR TO LIQUID ION EXCHANFGE AND ELECTROLYZING SO AS TO OBTAIN COPPER AND NICKEL VALUES. SUBJECTING THE SOLIDS TO A SECOND LEACH, USING FERROUS SULFATE OR FERROUS CHLORIDE, REMOVING THE IRON OXIDE AND SUBJECTING THE SOLIDS TO A LIQUID IION EXCHANGE FOR SEPARATING COBALT AND MANGANESE AND THEN ELECTROLYZING TO RECOVER INDEPENDENTLY THE COBALT AND MANGANESE VALUES.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kane
- 👤 P Cardwell
Bibliographic Details
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