Use of a rare earth for the removal of antimony and bismuth

Abstract

The invention relates generally to a process for removing one or more contaminants from an electrolytic solution and more particularly to a process for removing the one or more contaminants contained in an electrorefining solution using rare earth metals.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 168,097 filed Apr. 9, 2009, entitled “Use of High Surface Area Cerium Oxide Media for the Removal of Antimony and Bismuth from Water”, which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.[0002]Cross reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12 / 616,653, filed Nov. 11, 2009; 11 / 958,602, filed Dec. 18, 2007; 11 / 958,644, filed Dec. 18, 2007; and 11 / 958,968, filed Dec. 18, 2007, each of which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0003]The invention relates generally to a process for removing one or more contaminants from an electrolytic solution and more particularly to a process for removing the one or more contaminants in an electrorefining solution using rare earth metals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Electrometallurgy is a process for recovering a metal from an electrolytic solution using e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0067]The present invention can include a number of advantages depending on the particular configuration. The process of the present invention can remove variable amounts of target materials as needed to comply with application and process requirements. For example, the target material removal process can remove high concentrations of target materials to produce a treated electrolytic stream having no more than about 500 ppm, in some cases no more than about 100 ppm, in other cases no more than about 50 ppm. In still other cases, the target material removal process can produce a treated electrolytic stream having no more than about 20 ppb, and in still other cases no more than about 1 ppb target material. The insoluble rare earth / target material product can be qualified as non-hazardous waste. The target material removal process can be relatively insensitive to pH. The disclosed process can effectively fix target materials, particularly arsenic, antimony and / or bismuth, from electrolytic streams over a wide range of pH levels, as well as at extremely high and low pH values. In contrast to many conventional target material removal technologies, the capability of the present invention to treat electrolytic streams over a wide range of pH values can eliminate the need to alter and / or maintain the pH of the solution within a narrow range when removing the target material. Moreover, where the electrolytic stream is a copper elector fining stream, the stream can be flexibly treated without significant concern for the pH of electrolytic stream. Further still, significant cost advantages can be achieved by eliminating the need to adjust and maintain pH while fixing the target materials contained within the electrolytic stream. The target material removal process can also be relatively insensitive to target material concentration. The process can remove relatively low and / or high levels of target materials, particularly arsenic, antimony and bismuth from electrolytic streams. The process can be a robust and / or versatile process.

Problems solved by technology

More importantly, these contaminants may interfere with the cathodic deposition of the metal.

The presence of arsenic, antimony and bismuth are troublesome materials in the electrorefining of copper.

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