Recovery of metal values from aqueous solutions

Abstract

A process is described for recovering metal values, e.g., gallium, contained in an aqueous solution by extraction comprising the steps of contacting the aqueous solution with a water immiscible organic phase comprising a water-insoluble substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline whereby the metal values are transferred into the organic phase; separating the organic phase from the aqueous solution and recovering the metal values from the organic phase. The novel feature comprises recovering the metal values by contacting the organic phase containing metal values with an aqueous solution of a strong base whereby metal values are removed from the organic phase to the aqueous solution with the aqueous solution containing the recovered metal values having a concentration of at least 4.6 moles per liter total hydroxide, and then separating the metal values from the aqueous phase.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.