Process for recovering metals from aqueous solutions

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for recovering molybdenum from an acidic aqueous solution containing molybdenum, the process comprising: a) contacting the acidic aqueous solution with an organic phase solution in a mixer, wherein the organic phase solution comprises a phosphinic acid, thereby extracting at least part of the molybdenum from the aqueous phase to the organic phase, and increasing or maintaining the concentration o f molybdenum in the organic phase by recycling from 5 to 100% of the organic phase solution containing molybdenum, and contacting the organic phase with an acidic aqueous solution containing molybdenum until the concentration of molybdenum in the organic phase solution is at least from 0.3 g / L to 25 g / L; b) contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase strip solution having a pH from 5 to 11, said aqueous phase strip solution comprising a compound chosen from a member selected from the group consisting of ammonia, ammonium salts, sodium hydroxide, sodium salts, molybdenum, and combinations thereof, thereby stripping at least part o f the molybdenum from the organic phase to the aqueous phase strip solution, with the proviso that when the aqueous strip solution is aqueous ammonia, the concentration of free ammonia is from 0.01 mM to <1.0 M; and c) separating the molybdenum from the aqueous phase strip solution, thereby recovering molybdenum.