Recovery of alumina and some heavy metals from sulfate liquor

The gibbsite bearing shale occurrence in the Paleozoic sedimentary sequence of SW Sinai, Egypt, was found to be associated with several metal values. From sulfate liquor prepared by proper leaching, the recovery of these metal values has been studied. Alumina was first separated in the form of potash alum followed by Cu-selective extraction by hydroxyoxime LIX-973N solvent. Then U recovery using an anionic exchange resin Amberlite IRA-400 was achieved. For the associated heavy metal Zn, it was subsequently extracted using di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid. The relevant factors affecting the extraction process were adequately studied.