# US 2015/0144540 A1 · Method and apparatus for regeneration of extraction solution in metal extraction processes

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- Number: US 2015/0144540 A1
- Document ID: US20150144540A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/611,466
- Filed: 2015-02-02
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-11
- Assignees: Outotec (Finland) Oy
- Applicants: OUTOTEC (Finland) Oy
- Inventors: Erkki Paatero; Kai Jyrkkä; Sami Virolainen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144540A1

## CPC

- C22B 3/20: Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching (C22B3/18 takes precedence)
- B01D 15/02: with moving adsorbents
- B01D 21/00: Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation ({separation of ores or the like by sedimentation B03B5/48 - B03B5/60} ; differential sedimentation B03D3/00; {purification of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F, e.g.} devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water or sewage C02F1/40)
- B01F 27/11451: {forming open frameworks or cages}
- B01F 27/92: with helices or screws
- B01F 33/81: Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
- B01F 33/811: {in two or more consecutive, i.e. successive, mixing receptacles or being consecutively arranged}
- C07C 249/08: by reaction of hydroxylamines with carbonyl compounds
- C07C 249/14: Separation; Purification; Stabilisation; Use of additives
- C22B 3/02: Apparatus therefor
- C22B 3/26: by liquid-liquid extraction using organic compounds
- C22B 3/30: Oximes
- C22B 3/402: {of acyclic or carbocyclic compounds of different types}
- C22B 15/0084: {Treating solutions (with organic compounds C22B3/20)}
- C22B 15/0089: {by chemical methods}
- Y02P 10/20: Recycling
- C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for restoring the extractive potential of organic hydroxyoxime-based extraction solution used in the recovery of metals by liquid-liquid extraction are provided. The method is two-stage, in which an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine or some hydroxylamine compound is used in the reaction stage, and the removal of the undesirable compounds generated in the reaction occurs in the second stage by adsorption purification. The reaction stage and the adsorptive stage are carried out in a mixing tank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for treating organic extraction solution used in liquid-liquid extraction, where the extraction reagent of the solution is hydroxyoxime-based and where the metal extraction properties of said solution have been changed chemically in the process conditions, wherein in order to restore the physical and metal extraction properties of the extraction solution said solution is treated in two stages, whereby in the first of which, the reaction stage, the mixing of the extraction solution to be reoximated and an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine or a compound thereof, takes place in a mixing tank, which is equipped with a spiral-shaped mixer, after which the solutions are separated from each other and the extraction solution is treated in an adsorption purification stage mixing tank, in which the mixing of the extraction solution and some adsorption material in solid form is carried out with a spiral-shaped mixer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pH electrode is installed in the apparatus for measuring the pH value of the aqueous hydroxylamine solution.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pH electrode is installed in the mixing tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one mixing tank, whereby both the reaction stage and the adsorption stage are implemented in the same mixing tank.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises two mixing tanks: a reaction stage mixing tank and an adsorption stage mixing tank.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one mixing tank and at least one settling tank connected to it.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the settling tank acts as the extraction solution storage tank.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes members for recycling the aqueous solution from the reaction stage settling tank to the reaction stage mixing tank.