Abstract In a process wherein copper and nickel are recovered separately from an oxime extractant by separate stripping and electrowinning steps, nickel concentration in the copper electrowinning step is maintained below about 10 g/l by directing a portion of a metalbarren acid stream from the copper electrowinning step to the nickel stripping step. Low copper concentration in the aqueous stream from the nickel stripping step to the nickel electrowinning step is effected by maintaining the mole ratio of exchangeable hydrogen ion of the acid to nickel ion of the oxime between 1.8 and 2.2 in the nickel stripping step in accordance with the equation: (R*2Ni)org. +2(H )aqu. -> (2R*H)org. + (Ni )aqu. WHEREIN R is the oxime organic moiety and R2Ni is a chelate of nickel and the oxime.
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PURE COPPER AND PURE NICKEL FROM A WATER IMMISCIBLE OXIME EXTRACTANT WHICH COMPRISES STRIPPING AN OXIME EXTRACTANT CONTAINING COPPER WITH AN ACID STREAM IN A COPPER STRIPPING STEP, SAID ACID STREAM CONTAINING AN ACID OF THE TYPE WHICH FORMS A WATER SOLUBLE NICKEL SALT OR A WATER SOLUBLE COPPER SALT WHEN REACTED WITH NICKEL OR COPPER, CYCLING A COPPER-RICH STREAM FROM THE COPPER STRIPPING STEP TO A COPPER ELECTROWINNING STEP, STRIPPING AN OXIME EXTRACTANT CONTAINING NICKEL IN A NICKEL STRIPPING STEP BY CONTACTING THE OXIME EXTRACTANT WITH AN AQUEOUS ACID SOLUTION SAID CONTACTING OF SAID EXTRACTANT AND SAID ACID SOLUTION CAUSING NICKEL ION TRANSFER FROM THE OXIME EXTRACTANT TO THE AQUEOUS SOLUTION AND HYDROGEN ION TRANSFER FROM THE AQUEOUS SOLUTION TO THE OXIME EXTRACTANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EQUATION: (R*2NI) ORGANIC + 2(H+) AQUEOUS (2T*H) ORGAIC + (NI++) AQUEOUS, WHERE R* IS THE OXIME ORGANIC MOIETY, THE MOLE RATIO
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PURE COPPER AND PURE NICKEL FROM A WATER IMMISCIBLE OXIME EXTRACTANT WHICH COMPRISES STRIPPING AN OXIME EXTRACTANT CONTAINING COPPER WITH AN ACID STREAM IN A COPPER STRIPPING STEP, SAID ACID STREAM CONTAINING AN ACID OF THE TYPE WHICH FORMS A WATER SOLUBLE NICKEL SALT OR A WATER SOLUBLE COPPER SALT WHEN REACTED WITH NICKEL OR COPPER, CYCLING A COPPER-RICH STREAM FROM THE COPPER STRIPPING STEP TO A COPPER ELECTROWINNING STEP, STRIPPING AN OXIME EXTRACTANT CONTAINING NICKEL IN A NICKEL STRIPPING STEP BY CONTACTING THE OXIME EXTRACTANT WITH AN AQUEOUS ACID SOLUTION SAID CONTACTING OF SAID EXTRACTANT AND SAID ACID SOLUTION CAUSING NICKEL ION TRANSFER FROM THE OXIME EXTRACTANT TO THE AQUEOUS SOLUTION AND HYDROGEN ION TRANSFER FROM THE AQUEOUS SOLUTION TO THE OXIME EXTRACTANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EQUATION: (R*2NI) ORGANIC + 2(H+) AQUEOUS (2T*H) ORGAIC + (NI++) AQUEOUS, WHERE R* IS THE OXIME ORGANIC MOIETY, THE MOLE RATIO
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oxime stream to each stripping step comprises one oxime stream containing nickel and copper which is directed sequentially to said nickel stripping step and then to said copper stripping step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oxime comprises 2-hydroxy-4-nonyl-benzophenoxime.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the oxime comprises 2-hydroxy-4-nonyl-benzophenoxime.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oxime consists essentially of a. a benzophenoxime of the formula
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the oxime conSists essentially of a. a benzophenoxime of the formula
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oxime comprises an Alpha -hydroxy oxime of the formula
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the oxime comprises an Alpha -hydroxy oxime of the formula
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oxime comprises 5,8-diethyl-7-hydroxy-6-dodecanone oxime.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the oxime comprises 5,8-diethyl-7-hydroxy-6-dodecanone oxime.