Henkel Corporation

Joseph M Sierakoski

R Brantley Sudderth

Gary Alan Kordosky

Kenneth D MacKay

Roy G Lewis

A process for recovery of zinc values from aqueous ammoniacal solutions employing certain alkylsalicylaldoximes or acetophenoximes as the extractant. The method also provides a means for separation of the zinc and copper values present in the aqueous ammoniacal solution. The zinc and copper values are separately recovered from the organic phase by pH controlled stripping.

Solvent extraction process for recovery of zinc

Reagents formulated by admixture of selected hydroxy aryl ketoxime and hydroxyl aryl aldoxime extractants provide for efficient recovery of metal values, especially copper values, by solvent extraction processes. Specified kinetic and equilibrium conditions, which would require use of predetermined quantities of kinetic additives if ketoximes alone were employed or predetermined quantities of equilibrium modifiers if aldoximes were employed, are secured through formulation of reagents including both ketoxime and aldoxime extractants with less than the predetermined quantities of kinetic additive or equilibrium modifier. Reagents employed in methods of the invention may include from 0 to about 20 mole percent of a kinetic additive based on ketoxime content and also optionally a modifier of extraction and stripping equilibria in an amount providing a degree of modification of the aldoxime constituent of from about 0.75 to 1.0 and preferably from about 0.90 to 1.0.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Joseph M Sierakoski