Sumitomo Metal Mining Company, Ltd.

Kyushu University

Yuzo Baba

Masahiro Goto

Fukiko Kubota

Yoshitomo Ozaki

Satoshi Asano

Tatsuya Higaki

Masatoshi Takano

Toshihiko Nagakura

Shinya Matsumoto

Jiro Hayata

Provided are: an extractant which is capable of quickly and highly efficiently extracting zirconium from an acidic solution that is obtained by acid leaching a material containing zirconium and scandium such as an SOFC electrode material; and a method for extracting zirconium, which uses this extractant. A zirconium extractant according to the present invention is composed of an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). In the formula, R1 and R2 respectively represent the same or different alkyl groups, each of which may be linear or branched; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an arbitrary group other than an amino group, said arbitrary group being bonded, as an amino acid, to the &#x3b1; carbon.

Zirconium extractant and method for extracting zirconium

Provided are an extraction agent and extraction method that selectively extract and, at a low cost, recover gallium from an acidic solution containing gallium and zinc. The gallium extraction agent comprises an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). In the formula, Rand Reach indicate the same or different alkyl group, Rindicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Rindicates a hydrogen atom or any given group, other than an amino group, bonded to the &#x3b1;-carbon as an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. By extracting gallium from an acidic solution containing gallium and zinc by means of solvent extraction using the extraction agent, it is possible to selectively extract gallium.

Gallium extraction agent and gallium extraction method

In the present invention, nickel is selectively extracted from an acidic solution that contains a high concentration of manganese. This valuable metal extraction agent is represented by the general formula. In the formula, Rand Rare alkyl groups that may be the same or different, Ris a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Ris a hydrogen atom or any group, other than an amino group, bonded to an &#x3b1; carbon atom of an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit or a n-methylglycine unit. When extracting nickel by using this extraction agent, it is preferable to adjust the pH of the acidic solution to 2.3 to 5.5 inclusive.

Nickel extraction method

In order to selectively extract copper and/or lead from an acidic solution containing high concentrations of manganese, etc., the valuable-metal extracting agent of the present invention is expressed by general formula (1). In the formula, Rand Reach represent the same or different alkyl groups, Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or a given group, other than an amino group, that bonds with an &#x3b1; carbon as an amino acid. In general formula (1), the inclusion of a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an asparagine acid unit, or a normal methylglycine unit is preferred. When using the extracting agent to extract copper/and lead, it is preferable that the pH of the acidic solution be adjusted to 1.0-5.5 inclusive. 

Valuable-metal extraction method

Provided is a method for selectively extracting and inexpensively recovering scandium from an acidic solution containing calcium, magnesium, and scandium. The scandium extraction method according to the present invention involves subjecting an acidic solution containing calcium, magnesium, and scandium to solvent extraction using an extraction agent consisting of an amide derivative represented by the general formula below. In the formula, Rand Rrepresent the same or different alkyl groups, and Ris a hydrogen atom or alkyl group. The amide derivative preferably consisting of one or more derivatives selected from glycine amide derivatives, histidine amide derivatives, lysine amide derivatives, and aspartic acid amide derivatives. The pH of the acidic solution is preferably pre-adjusted to between 1 and 4. 

Scandium extraction method

Provided is a method for efficiently separating nickel, cobalt and/or scandium, and impurities from an acidic solution containing impurities such as manganese, iron, zinc, and aluminum. A valuable-metal extracting agent of the present invention is expressed by general formula (1). In the formula, Rand Reach represent the same or different alkyl groups, Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or a given group, other than an amino group, that bonds with an &#x3b1; carbon as an amino acid. In general formula (1), the inclusion of a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an asparagine acid unit, or a normal methylglycine unit is preferred. 

Method for separating impurities from an acidic solution containing nickel and cobalt and/or scandium

The present invention extracts precious metals from an acidic solution containing precious metals in an early and highly efficient manner. Provided is an extraction agent for precious metals that is represented by the general formula below. In the formula, R1 and R2 each represent the same alkyl group or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a discretionary group that is not an amino group and that bonds to &#x3b1; carbon as an amino acid. By subjecting an acidic solution containing precious metals to solvent extraction using the extraction agent for precious metals, a plurality of precious metals can be recovered all at once from a solution containing a large amount of various impurities. 

Extraction agent for precious metals and rhenium, and extraction method for precious metals and rhenium using same

To efficiently and selectively recover scandium from an acid solution containing calcium, magnesium and scandium. In the present invention, an acid solution containing calcium, magnesium and scandium is brought into contact with a scandium recovering resin impregnated with an amide derivative represented by the following general formula for an hour or more. In the formula, Rand Reach represent the same or different alkyl groups. The alkyl group can be a straight chain or a branched chain. Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or any group other than an amino group, which is bound to the &#x3b1; carbon as an amino acid. The amide derivative is preferably any one or more of glycinamide derivatives, histidinamide derivatives, lysinamide derivatives and aspartic acid amide derivatives. 

Method for recovering scandium

Provided are an extraction agent and extraction method that selectively extract and, at a low cost, recover indium from an acidic solution containing indium and zinc. The indium extraction agent comprises an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). In the formula, Rand Reach indicate the same or different alkyl group, Rindicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Rindicates a hydrogen atom or any given group, other than an amino group, bound to the &#x3b1;-carbon as an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. By extracting indium from an acidic solution containing indium and zinc by means of solvent extraction using the extraction agent, it is possible to selectively extract indium.

Indium extraction agent and indium extraction method

Provided is a method that selectively extracts and, at a low cost, recovers indium from an acidic solution containing indium and gallium. The present invention is a method that is for isolating a valuable metal and that, by means of subjecting an acidic solution containing indium and gallium to a solvent extraction that is by means of an extraction agent comprising an amide derivative represented by a general formula, extracts indium from the acidic solution. In the formula, Rand Reach indicate the same or a different alkyl group, Rindicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Rindicates a hydrogen atom or any given group, other than an amino group, bonded to the &#x3b1;-carbon as an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit.

Method for isolating valuable metal

The objective of the present invention is to selectively extract cobalt from an acidic solution containing a high concentration of manganese. This cobalt extraction method extracts cobalt from an acidic solution containing manganese and cobalt by subjecting the acidic solution to solvent extraction by means of a valuable metal extraction agent comprising an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). The valuable metal extraction agent is represented by the general formula. In the formula: Rand Reach represent the same or different alkyl group; Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or any given group aside from an amino group bonded to the &#x3b1; carbon as an amino acid. Preferably, the general formula has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. Preferably, the pH of the acidic solution is 3.5-5.5 inclusive. 

Cobalt extraction method

The objective of the present invention is to selectively extract light rare earth metals, and by extension, europium, from an acidic solution containing a plurality of types of rare earth metal. This valuable metal extraction agent is represented by the general formula. In the formula: Rand Reach indicate the same or different alkyl group; Rindicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and Rindicates a hydrogen atom or any given group other than an amino group bonded to the &#x3b1; carbon as an amino acid. Preferably, the general formula has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. Preferably, when extracting europium using the extraction agent, the pH is adjusted into the range of 2.0-3.0 inclusive, and when selectively extracting light rare earth metals, the pH is adjusted to 1.7-2.7 inclusive. 

Growing community of inventors

Fukuoka, Japan

Yuzo Baba