Process for the removal of impurity elements from solutions of valuable metals

US5632963A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Werner Schwab · Monheim, DE
• Ralf Kehl · Goldkronach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 1994
• Grant date: May 27, 1997
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process is disclosed for removing impurity elements, such as arsenic, and if necessary antimony, iron or bismuth, from valuable metal containing, such as copper containing, strongly mineral acid solutions by way of solvent extraction with organic solutions of hydroxamic acids, and for selectively stripping the impurity elements therefrom. Antimony, iron or bismuth are stripped with complexing acids, and arsenic is stripped with an aqueous solution containing valuable metal ions at a pH value in the 1.5 to 5 range, a higher pH than the original valuable metal containing aqueous acid solution.