Process for recovering cesium from cesium alum
AssigneeCarus Corporation
InventorPeter G. Mein
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Abstract
Cesium is recovered from cesium alum, CsAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, by a two-reaction sequence in which the cesium alum is first dissolved in an aqueous hydroxide solution to form cesium alum hydroxide, CsAl(OH).sub.3, and potassium sulfate, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4. Part of the K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 precipitates and is separated from the supernatant solution. In the second reaction, a water-soluble permanganate, such as potassium permanganate, KMnO.sub.4, is added to the supernatant. This reaction forms a precipitate of cesium permanganate, CsMnO.sub.4. This precipitate may be separated from the residual solution to obtain cesium permanganate of high purity, which can be sold as a product or converted into other cesium compounds.
Claims10
A process for recovering cesium from cesium alum, CsAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, comprising:
- (a) dissolving solid cesium alum in an aqueous hydroxide solution selected from the class consisting of aqueous sodium and/or potassium hydroxides, said solution having a hydroxide normality of from 0.5 to 4.0;
- (b) forming cesium aluminum hydroxide, CsAl(OH).sub.4, and potassium sulfate, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with part of the K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 precipitating;
- (c) separating the solids from the supernatant solution;
- (d) adding a water-soluble permanganate to the supernatant solution;
- (e) forming a precipitate of cesium permanganate, CsMnO.sub.4 ;
- and
- (f) separating the CsMnO.sub.4 precipitate from the residual solution to obtain cesium permanganate of high purity.
A process for recovering cesium from cesium alum, CsAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, comprising:
- (a) dissolving solid cesium alum in an aqueous hydroxide solution selected from the class consisting of aqueous sodium and/or potassium hydroxides, said solution being at a temperature of from 15.degree. to 30.degree. C. and having a hydroxide normality of from 2.0 to 3.0;
- (b) forming cesium aluminum hydroxide, CsAl(OH).sub.4, and potassium sulfate, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with part of the K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 precipitating;
- (c) separating the solids from the supernatant solution;
- (d) adding a water-soluble permanganate to the supernatant solution at a temperature of from 15.degree. to 30.degree. C.;
- (e) forming a precipitate of cesium permanganate, CsMnO.sub.4 ;
- (f) separating the CsMnO.sub.4 precipitate from the residual solution to obtain cesium permanganate of high purity;
- (g) reacting the separated CsMnO.sub.4 with a permanganate reducing agent to obtain a cesium carbonate (Cs.sub.2 CO.sub.3) solution and solid delta manganese dioxide (Cs.sub.x Mn.sub.4 O.sub.89 wherein x=0.8 to 2);
- and
- (h) separating the cesium carbonate solution from the cesium delta manganese dioxide.
A process for recovering cesium from cesium alum, CsAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, comprising:
- (a) dissolving solid cesium alum in an aqueous hydroxide solution selected from the class consisting of aqueous sodium and/or potassium hydroxides, said solution having a temperature of from 15.degree. to 30.degree. C. and a hydroxide normality of from 3.0 to 4.0;
- (b) forming cesium aluminum hydroxide, CsAl(OH).sub.4, and potassium sulfate, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, with part of the K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 precipitating;
- (c) separating the solids from the supernatant solution;
- (d) adding potassium permanganate to the supernatant solution;
- (e) forming a precipitate of cesium permanganate, CsMnO.sub.4 ;
- and
- (f) separating the CsMnO.sub.4 precipitate from the residual solution to obtain cesium permanganate of high purity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.