Method for recovering gallium value from aqueous solution of crude aluminum salt

摘要

An efficient method is proposed for the recovery of a trace amount of a gallium value from an aqueous solution containing a large amount of an aluminum salt as the principal solute as in the solution which is prepared by dissolving the precipitates obtained by neutralizing a Bayer's solution with carbon dioxide in hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. The method comprises admixing the aqueous solution with a water-soluble ferrocyanide compound, e.g., sodium ferrocyanide, as a precipitant of gallium ferrocyanide in such a controlled small amount as not to exceed 2. 5 times by moles of the gallium ions in the starting solution so that coprecipitation of aluminum ferrocyanide is minimized.