Methods and systems for recovering rhenium from a copper leach

Abstract

Various embodiments provide new methods of rhenium recovery. The methods can include subjecting a metal-bearing solution to an activated carbon bed, and adsorbing rhenium onto the activated carbon. The methods can also include heating a basic aqueous elution solution and eluting the rhenium from the activated carbon with the heated elution solution.

1 . A method for recovering rhenium, the method comprising:
 feeding a metal-bearing leach solution comprising rhenium over activated carbon;   adsorbing said rhenium onto said activated carbon;   heating a basic aqueous solution to a temperature greater than 80° C.; and   eluting said rhenium from said activated carbon with said basic aqueous solution.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising removing a rhenium lean metal-bearing leach solution from said activated carbon. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising recovering at least one metal value from said rhenium lean metal-bearing leach solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one metal value is at least copper. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising recovering rhenium metal. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising leaching a metal-bearing material to yield said metal-bearing leach solution. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said basic aqueous solution comprises at least one of sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said basic aqueous solution comprises sodium hydroxide in an amount from about 0.5% to about 2.5%. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said basic aqueous solution comprises ammonium hydroxide in an amount from about 0.5% to about 3%. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein heating a basic aqueous solution to a temperature greater than 80° C. is to a temperature from about 100° C. to about 115° C. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein heating a basic aqueous solution to a temperature greater than 80° C. is to a temperature from about 108° C. to about 110° C. 
     
     
         12 . A system for the recovery of rhenium from a metal-bearing leach solution, the system comprising:
 a metal-bearing leach solution feedstream;   at least one bed of activated carbon in communication with said metal-bearing leach solution feedstream;   an elutate feedstream in communication with said at least one bed of activated carbon;   a heater element coupled to said eluate feedstream; and   at least one exit port in communication with said at least one bed of activated carbon, said at least one exit port distal to said metal-bearing leach solution feedstream and said eluate feedstream.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one exit port is at least one metal-bearing leach solution exit port and at least one eluate exit port. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13  further comprising a metal recovery apparatus in communication with said at least one metal-bearing leach solution exit port. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein said metal-bearing recovery apparatus is an electrowinning circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12  further comprising a rhenium recovery apparatus in communication with said eluate exit port. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein said rhenium recovery apparatus is at least one of a solvent extraction apparatus, an ion exchange apparatus, and a crystallization apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12  further comprising a leaching apparatus coupled to said metal-bearing leach solution feedstream and operably producing a metal-bearing leach solution. 
     
     
         19 . A method for recovering two metal values, the method comprising:
 leaching a material comprising two metal values to produce a leach solution comprising two metal values;   subjecting said leach solution to activated carbon;   adsorbing a first metal value on said activated carbon;   removing a solution comprising a second metal value from said activated carbon;   heating an elutate solution;   eluting said first metal value with said elutate solution;   recovering said first metal value; and   recovering said second metal value.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein said two metal values are copper and rhenium.