Ionic liquid based processes for extraction of metals

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a method of obtaining metals from a source, including contacting the source with an ionic liquid in the absence of acid, thereby extracting the metals from the source and providing an ionic liquid extraction composition; and recovering the metals from the ionic liquid extraction composition, wherein the source includes coal, coal by-products, ore, tar, or electronic waste. Further, the present disclosure provides for a carbon material made by a process that includes contacting a source with an ionic liquid in the absence of acid, thereby extracting metals from the source and providing an ionic liquid extraction composition; and recovering the metals from the ionic liquid extraction composition, wherein the source includes coal, coal by-products, ore, tar, or electronic waste, further wherein the carbon material includes solids, liquids, carbon films, carbon fibers, carbon nanomaterials, or any combination thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.