Outotec Oyj

Outokumpu Technology Oyj

Outokumpu Oyj

Outokumpu Technology Oy

Raimo Kuusisto

Bror G Nyman

Juhani Lyyra

Stig-Erik Hultholm

Launo L Lilja

Eero Ekman

Pertti Pekkala

Petri Taipale

Timo Saarenpaa

Timo Saarenp{umlaut Over (aa)}

Jussi Vaarno

Esa Lindell

Timo Saarenp&auml;&auml;

The invention relates to a method for reversing the dispersion formed in the mixing section of liquid-liquid extraction and kept condensed in the separation section and the separated solutions form the rear end of the separation section to flow back towards the feed end of the separation section. The invention also refers to the extraction equipment for implementing the reversed flow.

Method and equipment for liquid-liquid extraction

The invention relates to a method and equipment with which an organic solution extraction solution is purified from entrainment of aqueous solution and impurities during hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction. The method treats an organic extraction solution, which is loaded with a valuable metal or valuable substance from the aqueous solution. The purpose is to carry out the physical separation of water droplets and the chemical removal of impurities from the organic extraction solution simultaneously.

Method and equipment for purifying an extraction solution from aqueous entrainment and impurities

The invention relates to a method and apparatus with which the aqueous solution from liquid-liquid extraction in the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals is purified from droplets of organic extraction solution. The aqueous solution is treated in a settling tank, where it is made to flow through a flow channel area with a reduced cross-section that extends over the width of the tank at least at one point. The flow channels are located in the lower section of the droplet coalescer according to the invention, with the upper section of the device being mainly solid.

Method and apparatus for purification of an aqueous solution from droplets of extraction solution

The invention relates to a method and apparatus with which an organic solution that is slightly soluble in water is scrubbed of aqueous entrainment and impurities. In particular, the organic solution may be the organic extraction solution of liquid-liquid extraction used in connection with the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals. The purpose is to perform the physical separation of water droplets and the chemical removal of impurities from the organic solution simultaneously. This occurs by routing the solution to be purified in the settling tank through at least one flow plate cassette of reduced cross-section.

Method and apparatus for purification of slightly water-soluble organic solution from aqueous entrainment

The invention relates to a method for the controlled separation of a dispersion of two liquids formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction into their own phases in the separation section of the extraction. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals. In accordance with the method the dispersion band remaining between the separated phases is dammed up using at least one revert member for said purpose located in the separation section. The equipment according to the invention comprises at least one revert member, which is in turn made up of at least two separate parts.

Method and equipment to control separation of a dispersion liquid-liquid extraction

The invention relates to a method for guiding a dispersion of two liquids formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction along the longitudinal axis of the separation section in the feed end of an extraction separation section. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals. In accordance with the method the dispersion to be fed into the separation section is guided so that it spreads evenly over the cross-section of the separation section using a directional member placed so as to obtain a vertical flow. The equipment in accordance with the invention consists of a directional member, which is in turn made up of at least two separate parts.

Method and equipment for guiding dispersion in liquid-liquid extraction

The invention relates to a method for the stabilization of the production capacity of an extraction plant extracting metals in a process, where the metal content of the feed solution varies. For the stabilization of capacity, the extraction cells and their piping are constructed and situated in such a way, that the extraction stages can be connected in different combinations, either in parallel or in a series. The method is especially suitable for the copper extraction process.

Extraction process

The invention relates to a method for controlling and compressing a dispersion formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction. The compression of the dispersion is achieved by reducing the cross-section of the separation section in the direction of flow and by equipping the separation section with a dispersion-damming member. The equipment according to the invention thus comprises a settler, which is essentially trapezoid in shape so that its cross-section is wider at the feed end of the settler and gets smaller towards the rear end of the settler, from whence the separated solutions are discharged from the settler, and the settler is equipped with at least one device to dam up the dispersion. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals.

Method and equipment for compressing a dispersion in liquid-liquid extraction

The invention relates to a method for extracting copper in liquid-liquid solvent extraction from aqueous solutions with a high sulphate content, by raising the viscosity of the extraction solution and by dispersing the aqueous solution into drops, achieving a dense drop aggregation. The viscosity of the extraction solution may be raised either by increasing the content of the actual extractant, the extraction reagent, in the extraction solution or by using a diluting agent with a higher viscosity than that of the diluting agent normally used. By raising the viscosity of the extraction solution the mixing durability of the extraction dispersion can be increased and resulting of that the amount of residual drops is decreased. Other advantages are that the extraction solution flow of the extraction process decreases in relation to the flow of the aqueous solution acting as the copper source and that the size of the extraction equipment needed is reduced.

Method for extracting copper from an aqueous solution

In a method according to the invention, a dispersion coming from a mixer part is conducted from downwards to the liquid part of the settler, into the middle part of the feed end, wherefrom it is set to be distributed to inside the settler part, in a closed channel-like space located in the immediate vicinity of the settler along the whole width of the settler and the flow therefrom mainly above the channel-like part towards the rear end of the settler. The method according to the invention is realized by means of an apparatus where an uptake shaft extending from the dispersion mixing tank to the settler opens into the feed end of the settler, from where there are further directed distribution channels towards the settler side edges. The distribution channels are placed in the bottom part of the settler.

Method and apparatus for controllably conducting a solution, obtained from liquid-liquid extraction of two solutions and mixed into dispersion, to a wide settler

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the boundary surface between the two mutually separable solutions in liquid&mdash;liquid extraction at the discharge end of the separation part and for preventing the aeration of the solutions when discharging them from the separation part, so that the overflow height of the settled, lighter organic solution is maintained constant. In order to adjust the boundary surface in between the mutually separable solutions, the overflow height of the heavier aqueous solution is adjusted by conducting the settled aqueous solution from down upwards through tubular elements, in which case the height of these overflow pipes can be adjusted. The aeration of the solutions when discharging them from the separation part is prevented by conducting the solutions into transfer pipes through covered, shaft-like weir boxes that are deeper than the discharge end. The invention also relates to an apparatus whereby the boundary surface between the solutions is adjusted and the aeration prevented.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the boundary surface between two controllably flowing and mutually separable and for conducting both solutions out of the separation part

The method and apparatus according to the invention relate to conducting the dispersion of two phases, created in the mixing unit (,) of liquid&mdash;liquid extraction, from the mixing unit to the separation part (,), in which case the flow direction of the dispersion discharged from the mixing unit asymmetrically with respect to the separation part is turned to be symmetrical with respect to the separation part. In the last mixer (,) of the mixing unit, the orientation of the dispersion is turned to be parallel to the lengthwise axis of the separation part, by means of flow-turning members (,), the dispersion flow is discharged from the mixing unit at the height of the mixer bottom (,) and conducted to an uptake shaft (,) parallel to the lengthwise axis of the separation part, where the dispersion flow is turned upwards and made to be discharged symmetrically into the separation part.

Method and apparatus for conducting the two solutions of liquid-liquid extraction, mixed into dispersion, in a controlled fashion into the separation part

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Espoo, Finland

Raimo Kuusisto