Methods For Recovering Cesium Or Rubidium Values From Ore Or Other Materials

Abstract

A method to liberate and recover cesium, rubidium, or both from ore or other material is described. The method involves heating the ore or other material in the presence of at least one reactant. The heating is such that it liberates at least a portion of the cesium or rubidium or both from the ore. Cesium or rubidium or both resulting from the method are further described.

1 . A method for recovering at least cesium, rubidium, or both from an ore or other material, said method comprising:
 heating a) said ore or other material, and b) at least one reactant together,   wherein said heating is at a temperature sufficient to liberate at least a portion of said cesium, rubidium, or both from said ore or other material, and   said reactant is an oxide of a metal, or a carbonate of a metal, hydroxide of a metal or a hydrate of a metal, that is capable of displacing cesium oxide, rubidium oxide, or both from said ore or other material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reactant is lime, hydrated lime, lime in solution or calcium carbonate or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reactant is an oxide or hydroxide or hydrate or carbonate of calcium. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reactant is an oxide of strontium, an oxide of barium, an oxide of lithium, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material is present as particulates and having an average particle size of from about 1 mm to about 15 mm. 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reactant is present as particulates and having an average particle size of from about 1 mm to about 15 mm. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material and said reactant or both are in particulate form and each have an average particle size that is within 50% of each other. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore is present and subjected to said heating. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore is present and is cesium-bearing ore or silicate-based ore or aluminosilicate-based ore. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material is in intimate contact with said at least one reactant. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material and said at least one reactant have a weight ratio of said ore or other material to said reactant of from about 15:85 to about 85:15. 
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material and said at least one reactant are mixed together prior to or during said heating. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering said cesium or rubidium or both. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering said cesium or rubidium or both in the form of a gas and converting said gas to a liquid solution containing cesium or rubidium or both. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering cesium or rubidium or both in the form of a gas, wherein said cesium or rubidium or both are in the form of an oxide. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising scrubbing said gas with an aqueous solution or non-aqueous solution. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material, after said liberating, is at least partially converted to calcium silicate, calcium aluminosilicate, or both. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material is present and comprises pollucite. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said heating is under pressure, under an inert atmosphere, in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, under vacuum, or under a reductive environment. 
     
     
         38 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hearing is for a period of from about 5 minutes to 100 hours. 
     
     
         44 . Cesium oxide or rubidium oxide obtained from the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature of said heating is from about 1,025° C. to about 3,000° C. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature of said heating is at a temperature sufficient to volatize said cesium, rubidium, or both. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ore or other material further comprises at least one salt, and wherein said at least one salt reacts with said at least a portion of said cesium, rubidium, or both to form a cesium salt or a rubidium salt or both. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein at least one salt comprises a chloride or a sulfate. 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises adding at least one salt prior to or during said heating. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said at least one salt reacts with said at least a portion of said cesium, rubidium, or both to form a cesium salt or a rubidium salt or both. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said cesium salt or rubidium salt comprises cesium sulfate, cesium chloride, rubidium sulfate, or rubidium chloride. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein method further comprises scrubbing said cesium salt or rubidium salt or both in vapor phase with water or an acid or a base. 
     
     
         55 . (canceled)