Renewable isoparaffins as diluent in hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction process
AssigneesOutotec (Finland) Oy, Neste Oy
InventorsErkki Paatero, Rami Saario, Jukka Kortelainen, Maija Rouhiainen, Virpi Rämö
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to hydrometallurgical technologies wherein liquid-liquid extraction, also called solvent extraction, is used to separate and concentrate metal ions. Exemplary embodiments relate to solvent extraction of copper and a diluent useful in copper solvent extraction. A bio-based composition can fulfil physico-chemical properties that are desired for solvent extraction. Moreover, a composition is disclosed, which in addition to providing more environmental friendly alternative, can also improve the solvent extraction process of copper.
Claims16
A biobased composition for liquid-liquid extraction of metals, the biobased composition comprising:
- 5 vol-%-40 vol-% metal extraction reagent;
- and
- 60 vol-%-95 vol % diluent, wherein the diluent includes:
- 10 wt %-100 wt % of a first organic diluent containing hydrocarbons having 80 wt %-98 wt % C15-C20 hydrocarbons with at least 60 wt % isoparaffins from a total amount of the hydrocarbons;
- and
- optionally, 0 wt %-90 wt % of a second organic diluent component having more than 10 wt % naphthenes;
- wherein a 14C isotope content of the first organic diluent is more than 90%.
A method of extracting metals with a biobased composition, the method comprising:
- liquid-liquid extracting a metal with the biobased composition having a metal extraction reagent and a first organic diluent containing 80 wt %-98 wt % C15-C20 hydrocarbons having at least 60 wt % isoparaffins from a total amount of hydrocarbons,
- wherein a 14C isotope content of the first organic diluent is more than 90%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.