GB656003A - A process for the simultaneous recovery of base metals in powder form and of metallic salts - Google Patents

Abstract

In a process for the simultaneous recovery of metals below alkali metals in the electromotive force series of the metals, and alkali salts, solid compounds of the metals containing the minimum quantity of water, or water of crystallization, are placed in intimate contact with alkali metal amalgams, the metal being precipitated quantitatively as a powder and the rest of the original compound appearing as the anion of a newly-formed alkali metal salt. The reaction may take place in a vacuum or in an atmosphere of an inert gas. The mercury may be recovered by filtering or distillation and the alkali salt used as such, or part may be decomposed to provide alkali metal for the production of amalgam. In an example, manganese ores may be chlorinated and treated with sodium amalgam to precipitate manganese with the formation of NaCl, which floats as a solution on the mercury released from the amalgam. The manganese is obtained by distillation of the manganese amalgam crystals after separating the excess mercury and more sodium amalgam formed by electrolysis of the NaCl, the liberated chlorine being used to treat more manganese ore. The recovery of iron from waste pickling liquor and antimony from stibnite are described.ALSO:In a process for the simultaneous recovery of metals below the alkali metals in the electromotive series of the metals and alkali salts, solid compounds of the metals containing the minimum quantity of water, or water of crystallization, are placed in intimate contact with alkali-metal amalgams, the metal being precipitated quantitatively as a powder and the rest of the original compound appearing as the anion of a newly formed alkali metal salt. The reaction may take place in a vacuum or in an atmosphere of an inert gas. The mercury may be recovered by filtering or distillation and the alkali salt used as such, or part may be decomposed to provide alkali metal for the production of amalgam. In an example, manganese ores may be chlorinated and treated with sodium amalgam to precipitate manganese with the formation of sodium chloride which floats as a solution on mercury released from the amalgam. The manganese is obtained by distillation of the manganese amalgam crystals after separation from excess mercury and more sodium amalgam formed by electrolysis of the Na Cl, the chlorine being used to treat more manganese ore. The recovery of iron from waste pickling liquor and antimony from stibnite are described.