Copper recovery process
OwnerVincent F. D'Agostino, Joseph Y. Lee +2inventors
InventorsVincent F. D'Agostino, Joseph Y. Lee, Stephen Zapisek, George Schore
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Abstract
A method is described for metal recovery from basic ammoniated metal solutions by means of a weakly-acidic cation-exchange material comprising a polymeric felt incorporating radiation-grafted monomers comprising carboxylic acid functional groups.
Claims24
A method of metal recovery comprising;
- (a) forming a weakly-acidic cation-exchange material by radiation-grafting vinylic or ethylenic monomers comprising carboxylic acid functional groups to a polymeric felt substrate to the extent of 10-1500%;
- (b) converting the carboxylic acid groups to the corresponding carboxylate salt groups;
- and
- (c) contacting the cation-exchange material with an alkaline aqueous solution comprising ammoniated metal cations so as to form a complex between the cations and the carboxylate groups, thereby removing the cations from solution.
A method of copper recovery comprising:
- (a) forming a weakly-acidic cation-exchange material by radiation-grafting acrylic acid or methacrylic acid to a polymeric felt substrate to the extent of 100-1000%;
- (b) converting the grafted acids to the acid salts;
- (c) reconverting the acid salts to the free acids;
- and
- (d) contacting the resin with a basic solution comprising (tetra-ammonia)cupric chloride so as to form a complex between the acid salts and the cupric cations, thereby removing the cations from solution.
A weakly acidic cation-exchange material adapted for metal recovery from basic aqueous solutions comprising a polymeric felt radiation-grafted to the extent of about 10-1500% with a vinylic or ethylenic monomer comprising a carboxylic acid functional group, said functional group being present in said grafted felt as the carboxylic acid salt.
A weakly acidic cation exchange material adapted for metal recovery from basic aqueous solutions comprising a polymeric felt radiation-grafted to the extent of about 10-1500% with a vinylic or ethylenic monomer comprising a carboxylic acid functional group, said functional group being present in said grafted membrane as the free carboxylic acid, wherein said free acid group is formed by treating the acid salt form of the grafted monomer with aqueous acid.
A method of metal recovery comprising:
- contacting a weakly acidic cation exchange material with a basic aqueous solution comprising ammoniated metal cations so as to form a complex between the cations and the material, thereby removing the cations from the solution;
- said material comprising a polymeric felt substrate radiation-grafted to the extent of 10-1500% with a vinylic or ethylenic monomer comprising a carboxylic acid functional group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.