RECOVERY OF COBALT AND CHROMIUM

摘要

A process is disclosed for recovering cobalt and chromium from a cobalt and chromium containing alloy. The process involves first digesting the alloy in concentrated hydrochloric acid at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to form a first solution containing the major portion of the cobalt, chromium, and any iron and nickel present in the alloy and a first solid and separating the first solution from the first solid. Oxalic acid is then added to the first solution in an amount sufficient to subsequently precipitate the major portion of the cobalt and any iron and nickel contained in the first solution followed by adjustment of the ph to from about 1 to about 2 with a base and maintaining the temperature below about 20 DEG for a sufficient time to form a second solid containing the major portion of the cobalt and the major portion of any iron and nickel which is present in the first solution and a second solution containing the major portion of the chromium which is present in the first solution and separation of the second solid from the second solution. The second solid is then washed with sufficient water to remove any water soluble impurities and separated from the resulting wash water. The resulting washed second solid is then contacted with a calcium chloride solution of sufficient calcium chloride concentration, at a sufficient temperature, for a sufficient time to form a third solution containing the major portion of the cobalt which was present in the second solid, and a third solid. The third solution is then separated from the third solid.