Carus Corporation

Carus Chemical Company

Peter G Mein

Arno H Reidies

Horst R Adolf

Cesium is recovered from a cesium-bearing mineral such as pollucite by roasting with an alkaline flux to convert the cesium to a soluble salt, extracting the cesium salt with water, and separating the cesium solution from the residual solids. Water-soluble permanganate is then added to the cesium solution to selectively precipitate cesium permanganate, giving other soluble metal compounds in solution. Cesium permanganate of high purity is recovered by separation from the residual solution. The cesium permanganate can be converted to other cesium compounds.

Process for recovering cesium from cesium ore

Cesium is recovered from cesium alum, CsAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, by an aqueous conversion and precipitation reaction using a critical stoichiometric excess of a water-soluble permanganate to form solid cesium permanganate (CsMnO.sub.4) free from cesium alum. The other metal salts remain in solution, providing the final pH does not cause hydroxides of aluminum or iron to form. The precipitate is separated from the residual solution to obtain CsMnO.sub.4 of high purity.

Process for recovering cesium from cesium alum

Cesium is recovered from cesium alum, CsAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, by a two-reaction sequence in which the cesium alum is first dissolved in an aqueous hydroxide solution to form cesium alum hydroxide, CsAl(OH).sub.3, and potassium sulfate, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4. Part of the K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 precipitates and is separated from the supernatant solution. In the second reaction, a water-soluble permanganate, such as potassium permanganate, KMnO.sub.4, is added to the supernatant. This reaction forms a precipitate of cesium permanganate, CsMnO.sub.4. This precipitate may be separated from the residual solution to obtain cesium permanganate of high purity, which can be sold as a product or converted into other cesium compounds.

Cesium is recovered from a cesium-bearing mineral such as pollucite by extraction with hydrochloric acid to obtain an extract of cesium chloride and other alkali metal and polyvalent metal chlorides. The iron and aluminum chlorides can be precipitated as the hydroxides and separated from the solution of the alkali metal chlorides to which is added potassium permanganate or other water-soluble permanganate to selectively precipitate cesium permanganate. The cesium precipitate is then separated from the residual solution containing the metal chlorides. The cesium permanganate, which is in a very pure form, can be converted to other cesium compounds by reaction with a reducing agent to obtain cesium carbonate and cesium delta manganese dioxide.

Potassium ferrate (VI), K.sub.2 FeO.sub.4, which has been crystallized from a concentrated aqueous solution of KOH is washed with an aqueous solution of a potassium salt of an inorganic acid to remove the residual KOH. The wash solution is at an alkaline pH and contains a high concentration of the potassium salt.

Method of removing potassium hydroxide from crystallized potassium

Alkali metal delta manganese dioxide hydrate, which is obtained as a by-product in the industrial oxidation of organics by KMnO.sub.4 is subjected to ion exchange reaction with heavy metal ions (copper, iron, silver, etc.). The reaction is carried out on the acid side of the pH at which a hydroxide precipitate of the heavy metal will not form, and continued until the reaction product contains less than 0.5 moles of bound alkali metal per mole of manganese. The product is recovered and prepared for catalytic use in the form of dried porous pellets. The resulting oxidation catalysts have high efficiency, long life, and optimum activity at reasonable temperatures. These catalysts can be used for applications such as the oxidation and deodorization of exhaust gases from paint drying ovens.

Heavy metal-manganese oxidation catalysts and process of producing same

Alkali metal delta manganese dioxide hydrate, which is obtained as a by-product in the industrial oxidation of organics by KMnO.sub.4 is subjected to ion exchange reaction with rare earth ions of the ceria subgroup (viz. cerium, lanthanum, etc.). By employing favorable temperature and pH conditions, a reaction product can be produced containing as little as 0.03 moles of alkalii metal per mole of manganese, and up to one mole of ceria rare earth per six moles of manganese. The separated product is prepared for catalytic use in the form of dried porous pellets. The resulting oxidation catalyst has high efficiency, long life, and optimum activity at reasonable temperatures. The catalyst can be used advantageously for applications such as the oxidation and deodorization of exhaust gases from paint drying ovens.

Rare-earth-manganese oxidation catalysts and process of producing same

Potassium is recovered as a dilute KOH solution from residue solids resulting from conversion of manganese ore to K.sub.2 MnO.sub.4 by reacting the solids with a Ca(OH).sub.2 under specified conditions. The resulting KOH solution can be returned to the K.sub.2 MnO.sub.4 plant and the solids of reduced potassium content are suitable for disposal in a landfill.

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LaSalle, IL, United States of America

Peter G Mein