Method for solubilizing metal oxides by surface treatment, surface treated metal oxide solutions and method for separating metal oxides
AssigneeNational University of Ireland, Galway
InventorsPatrick Cunningham, James McManus
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Abstract
The invention relates to soluble metal oxides and mixed metal oxides and to solutions comprising metal oxides and mixed metal oxides. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a soluble metal oxide and a soluble mixed metal oxide and additionally relates to a process for modifying the solubility of a soluble metal oxide. The metal oxides, mixed metal oxides and solutions thereof have a number of applications and in particular are suitable for use as catalysts and also as precursors for the formation of metal films.
Claims49
A soluble metal oxide comprising:
- one or more metal oxide crystallite particles;
- each crystallite particle comprising a plurality of metal and oxygen moieties;
- an inner organic binding group attached to at least one metal moiety;
- and
- an outer organic binding group attached to at least one inner organic binding group.
A process for preparing a metal oxide solution comprising:
- adding an amount of insoluble hydrous metal oxide to an amount of organic acid to provide a metal oxide suspension;
- heating the suspension until the suspension forms a solution;
- wherein
- the insoluble hydrous metal oxide is added to a sufficient amount of organic acid to allow a solution to be formed during heating.
A process for preparing a soluble metal oxide suitable for dissolving in a target organic solvent comprising:
- selecting the target solvent;
- determining an organic binding group which when attached to an insoluble metal oxide would allow the metal oxide to dissolve in the target solvent;
- selecting an organic acid suitable for providing the organic binding group;
- and
- preparing the soluble metal oxide using the selected organic acid.
A process for modifying the solubility of a soluble metal oxide comprising:
- heating the soluble metal oxide to a temperature not greater than 300° C. to provide an insoluble metal oxide;
- adding an amount of the insoluble metal oxide to an amount of organic acid to provide a metal oxide suspension;
- heating the metal oxide suspension until the suspension forms a solution;
- and
- removing the acid to provide a soluble metal oxide having modified solubility;
- wherein
- the insoluble hydrous metal oxide is added to a sufficient amount of organic acid to allow a solution to be formed during heating.
A process for modifying the solubility of a soluble metal oxide comprising;
- adding an amount of soluble metal oxide to an excess amount of organic solvent to form a metal oxide solution;
- adding acid drop wise to the solution;
- and
- removing the organic solvent to provide a soluble metal oxide having modified solubility.
A process for the extraction of tin from a mixed tin, antimony and iron ore comprising:
- dissolving the ore in a mineral acid to form a mineral acid solution comprising aqueous tin, antimony and iron species;
- increasing the pH of the solution to form hydrous tin antimony and iron oxides within the solution and to precipitate hydrous tin, antimony and iron oxides from solution;
- adding an excess amount of organic acid to the hydrous oxides to form an organic acid suspension;
- heating the suspension;
- filtering the suspension;
- and
- removing the organic acid to provide a soluble tin oxide with iron residue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.