Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A process for recovering a metal ion from aqueous solutions containing dilute solutions of such metal ion comprising the steps of: initially mixing said aqueous solution with a solvent extraction liquid immiscible with said aqueous solution to create a dispersion of drops of aqueous solution of a size in said extraction liquid which will maximize the mass transfer which occurs between said drops of aqueous solution and said extraction liquid; maintaining, without further mixing, said dispersion for a time sufficient for mass transfer of said metal ion from said aqueous solution to said extraction liquid to occur; further mixing said dispersion of drops of aqueous solution in extraction liquid to establish a narrow range of drop sizes within said dispersion which will minimize both the time necessary for separation of said drops of aqueous solution from said extraction liquid and the entrainment of said drops of aqueous solution in said extraction liquid; separating said drops of aqueous solution from said extraction liquid; and recovering said metal ion from said extraction liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A process for recovering a metal ion from aqueous solutions containing dilute solutions of such metal ion comprising the steps of: initially mixing said aqueous solution with a solvent extraction liquid immiscible with said aqueous solution to create a dispersion of drops of aqueous solution of a size in said extraction liquid which will maximize the mass transfer which occurs between said drops of aqueous solution and said extraction liquid; maintaining, without further mixing, said dispersion for a time sufficient for mass transfer of said metal ion from said aqueous solution to said extraction liquid to occur; further mixing said dispersion of drops of aqueous solution in extraction liquid to establish a narrow range of drop sizes within said dispersion which will minimize both the time necessary for separation of said drops of aqueous solution from said extraction liquid and the entrainment of said drops of aqueous solution in said extraction liquid; separating said drops of aqueous solution from said extraction liquid; and recovering said metal ion from said extraction liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, including recycling said aqueous solution from the separating step to the mixing step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The process of claim 2 where the liquids are initially mixed by flowing said aqueous solution and said extraction liquid through a conduit containing a plurality of curved, sheet-like elements extending longitudinally in said conduit and each having a curvature to turn the direction phases flowing through said conduit, said elements being arranged in alternating right-handed and left-handed groups, the leading and trailing edges of adjacent elements being disposed at a substantial angle with respect to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 3 where after the mixing step the dispersion is maintained by flowing said dispersion through a vertically oriented chamber having a cross-sectional area at least four times that of the conduit in which mixing occurred and at a rate substantially matching the rate of separation of the dispersed aqueous solution from the extraction liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The process of claim 4 where a narrow range of drop sizes of aqueous solution in said extraction liquid is established during said further mixing step and prior to separation of the dispersion by flowing said dispersion through a conduit containing a plurality of curved, sheet-like elements extending longitudinally in said conduit and each having a curvature to turn the direction of phases flowing through said conduit, said elements being arranged in alternating right-handed and left-handed groups, the leading and trailing edges of adjacent elements being disposed at a substantial angle with respect to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 5 where said metal ion is selected from the group consisting of uranium, copper, vanadium, cobalt, and nickel.