ION EXCHANGE AS A PRIMARY PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE IN HYDROMETALLURGY

摘要

Ion exchange (IX) has been in use for a long time, references to IX are made in The Bible, Exodus Chapter 15 vs. 22-25 'and the waters were made sweet'. Aristotle noted a reduction in the salt content of water when passed through certain types of sand, a phenomena probably associated with ion exchange characteristics of zeolites. Some major milestones in IX development include; 1. ～1400 BC Moses. 2. ～ 330 BC Aristotle. 3. 1850 the discovery of the IX process. 4. 1909 Gans proposed zeolites for gold recovery. 5. 1935 sulfonated coals used for water softening. 6. 1939 copper recovery from Rayon Production. 7. 1940 The Rare Earth Project at Ames. 8. 1952 first South African U IX mine at West Rand (first SX of U using amines 1957). 9. 1954 first U IX in USA at Shiprock Mine N.M. USA. 10. Late 1950's U IX over 50 fixed bed systems installed in North America. 11. 1950's-1960's FSU introduce U IX both fixed bed and RIP 1968 Gold IX (RIP) Muruntau Uzbekistan (CIL wasn't commercialized until 1973). 12. Mid 1970's FSU & USA independently develop ISL combined with IX for U recovery. 13. 1978 Chinese Tungsten IX commercial Plant. 14. 1984 Uranium extraction from seawater. 15. 2004 Recovery of Gallium using hydroxyamic acid ligands. 16. Current - Commercialization of IX for recovery of gold thiosulfate.