METHOD FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION OF JAROSITE AND AMMONIUM AND ALKALI BASED DOUBLE SALTS IN SOLVENT EXTRACTION CIRCUITS CONNECTED TO ACIDIC LEACHING PROCESSES

摘要

The present invention relates to a method forpreventing the formation of jarosite and ammonium- andalkali-based double salts in the solvent extraction of acidicextraction processes. The organic extraction solution isneutralized by ammonium or alkali salts prior to theseparation of valuable metals in order to improve theextraction recovery. In a pre-extraction step after theneutralization, the extraction agent is contacted with anaqueous solution containing a metal which replaces theammonium or alkali ions contained in the extraction solution.Thus the ammonium or alkali ions are removed from theextraction circuit prior to separation of the valuable metalsby extraction.