Abstract: The present invention is a method for treating an alloy, by which a solution that contains nickel and/or cobalt is obtained from an alloy that contains copper, zinc, and nickel and/or cobalt, said method comprising: a leaching process wherein a leachate is obtained by subjecting the alloy to a leaching treatment by means of an acid in the coexistence of a sulfurizing agent; a reduction process wherein the leachate is subjected to a reduction treatment with use of a reducing agent; and an ion exchanging process wherein a solution that contains nickel and/or cobalt is obtained by bringing a solution, which has been obtained in the reduction process, into contact with an amino phosphoric acid-based chelate resin, thereby having zinc adsorbed on the amino phosphoric acid-based chelate resin.

Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode active material with which a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high energy density can be obtained, a nickel-manganese composite hydroxide suitable as a precursor of the positive electrode active material, and production methods capable of easily producing these in an industrial scale. Provided is a nickel-manganese composite hydroxide represented by General Formula (1): NixMnyMz(OH)2+? and containing a secondary particle formed of a plurality of flocculated primary particles. The nickel-manganese composite hydroxide has a half width of a diffraction peak of a (001) plane obtained by X-ray diffraction measurement of at least 0.10° and up to 0.40° and has a degree of sparsity/density represented by [(void area within secondary particle/cross section of secondary particle)×100](%) of at least 0.5% and up to 10%. Also provided is a production method of the nickel-manganese composite hydroxide.

Abstract: Provided is a thermally conductive composition that is capable of effectively suppressing pump out. Specifically provided is a thermally conductive composition that contains a base oil composition and an inorganic powder filler, wherein: the base oil composition contains a base oil, a thermoplastic resin that has a softening point of 50-150° C., and a thixotropic agent; and when shaped into a thermally conductive sheet of the thermally conductive composition at a temperature not less than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, the type-A hardness (in compliance with JIS K 6253-3) of the thermally conductive sheet as measured using a durometer is 30-80.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a method for recovering a valuable metal at low cost. The present invention is a method for recovering a valuable metal, the method comprising a step of preparing a burden material containing at least a valuable metal to obtain a raw material, a step of subjecting the raw material to an oxidation treatment and a reductive melting treatment to produce a reduced product containing an alloy and a slag, and a step of separating the slag from the reduced product to collect the alloy, in which the copper grade, which is a ratio of the mass of copper (Cu) to the total mass of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) contained in the alloy (i.e., a Cu/(Ni+Co+Cu) ratio), is adjusted to 0.250 or more.

Abstract: Provided is a thermally conductive paste which can be applied satisfactorily using conventional coating methods due to the ability to be formed into a paste, and which effectively suppresses pump out. Specifically provided is a thermally conductive paste containing a base oil composition and an inorganic powder filler, wherein the base oil composition contains a base oil, a thermoplastic resin that has a softening point of 50-150° C., and a volatile solvent, and the solubility parameter of the volatile solvent as predicted using Fedor’s method is 9.0-12.0 cal(½)/cm(3/2).

Abstract: Provided is a thermally conductive composition that can easily be shaped into a sheet or the like, and is capable of effectively suppressing pump out. Specifically provided is a thermally conductive composition that includes a base oil composition and an inorganic powder filler, wherein: the base oil composition contains a base oil, a thermoplastic resin that has a softening point of 50-150° C., and a thixotropic agent; the inorganic powder filler contains a first inorganic powder filler having an average particle size in the range of 10-100 µm, a second inorganic powder filler, and a third inorganic powder filler; and the thermoplastic resin is included at a proportion of 50-200 parts by mass and the thixotropic agent is included at a proportion of 1-10 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the base oil.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal composite hydroxide, which includes a first crystallization process of obtaining first metal composite hydroxide particles by supplying a first raw material aqueous solution containing a metal element and an ammonium ion donor to a reaction tank, adjusting a pH of a reaction aqueous solution in the reaction tank, and performing a crystallization reaction and a second crystallization process of forming a tungsten-concentrated layer on a surface of the first metal composite hydroxide particles and obtaining second metal composite hydroxide particles by supplying a second raw material aqueous solution containing a metal element and a more amount of tungsten than the first raw material aqueous solution and an ammonium ion donor to a reaction aqueous solution containing the first metal composite hydroxide particles, adjusting a pH of the reaction aqueous solution, and performing a crystallization reaction, and the like.

Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries for making high capacity and high output compatible, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, to which the positive electrode active material is adopted, and a production method for a positive electrode active material in which the positive electrode active material can be easily produced even on an industrial scale. A positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, comprising: primary particles of a lithium nickel composite oxide represented by at least General Formula: LizNi1-x-yCoxMyO2 (0.95?z?1.03, 0<x?0.20, 0<y?0.10, x+y?0.20, and M is at least one type of element selected from Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Zr, and Mo); and secondary particles configured by aggregating the primary particles, wherein an LiAl compound is provided on surfaces of the primary particles.

Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries for making high capacity and high output compatible, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, having the positive electrode active material adopted thereto, and a production method for a positive electrode active material in which the positive electrode active material can be easily produced in an industrial scale. A positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, contains: primary particles of a lithium nickel composite oxide represented by at least General Formula: LizNi1-x-yCoxMyO2 (0.95?z?1.03, 0<x?0.20, 0<y?0.10, x+y?0.20, and M is at least one type of element selected from Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Zr, and Mo); and secondary particles configured by flocculating the primary particles, wherein an LiAl compound and an LiW compound are provided on surfaces of the primary particles.

Abstract: Provided is a method for recovering valuable metals contained in waste batteries, wherein valuable metals can be efficiently recovered while suppressing a reduction in recovery rate. The method according to the present invention for recovering valuable metals from waste batteries comprises: a roasting step S1 for roasting a waste battery; a crushing step S2 for inserting an obtained roasted material into a crushing container, and crushing the roasted material using a chain mill; and a sieving step S3 for sieving an obtained crushed material and separating the crushed material into sieve upper material and sieve lower material. A chain mill equipment that is used in the crushing process is provided with: a rotating axial rod vertically erected with respect to a bottom surface of a crushing container; and a chain attached to a side surface of the rotating axial rod.

Abstract: Provided is a treatment method whereby it becomes possible to recovery copper, nickel and cobalt, which are valuable metals, contained in a lithium ion battery waste and to separate copper, nickel and cobalt from one another effectively. A method for treating a lithium ion battery waste according to the present invention includes: an alloy production step S1 of introducing the lithium ion battery waste into a furnace and then melting the lithium ion battery waste by heating, thereby producing an alloy containing copper, nickel and cobalt; and an electrolytic purification step S2 of subjecting the alloy to such an electrolytic treatment that the alloy is charged as an anode into a sulfuric acid solution and then electricity is conducted between the anode and a cathode to electrodeposit copper contained in the alloy onto the cathode, thereby separating nickel and cobalt from each other.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem, in methods for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, of providing an oxide ore smelting method with good productivity and efficiency. The present invention is an oxide ore smelting method for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, the method comprising at least: a mixing step S1 for mixing an oxide ore with a carbonaceous reducing agent; a mixture-molding step S2 for molding the mixture obtained to obtain a mixture-molded body; and a reducing step S3 for heating the mixture-molded body obtained at a specified reducing temperature in a reducing furnace.

Abstract: A method for producing lithium hydroxide that allows reducing a load of removing divalent or more ions with an ion-exchange resin is provided. The method for producing lithium hydroxide includes steps (1) to (3) below. (1) a neutralization step: a step of adding an alkali to a first lithium chloride containing liquid to obtain a post-neutralization liquid, (2) an ion-exchange step: a step of bringing the post-neutralization liquid into contact with an ion-exchange resin to obtain a second lithium chloride containing liquid, and (3) a conversion step: a step of electrodialyzing the second lithium chloride containing liquid to obtain a lithium hydroxide containing liquid. Since this producing method allows roughly removing divalent or more ions in the neutralization step, a load of metal removal with the ion-exchange resin is reducible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite oxide that can achieve a high low-temperature output characteristic, a method for manufacturing the same, and a positive electrode active material in which the generation of soluble lithium is suppressed and a problem of gelation is not caused during the paste preparation. A positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, including a lithium-metal composite oxide powder including a secondary particle configured by aggregating primary particles containing lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, or a lithium-metal composite oxide powder including both the primary particles and the secondary particle. The secondary particle has a porous structure inside as a main inside structure, the slurry pH is 11.5 or less, the soluble lithium content rate is 0.5[% by mass] or less, the specific surface area is 3.0 to 4.0 [m2/g], and the porosity is more than 50 to 80[%].

Abstract: A magnetostrictive member is formed of a crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics and is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction. At least one of a front face and a back face of the plate-like body has a plurality of grooves extending in the long-side direction.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating an alloy by which nickel and/or cobalt can be selectively isolated from an alloy that contains copper as well as nickel and/or cobalt, in a waste lithium ion battery. The present invention is a method for treating an alloy, by which a solution that contains nickel and/or cobalt is obtained from an alloy that contains copper as well as nickel and/or cobalt, the method including: a leaching step in which a leachate is obtained by subjecting an alloy to an acid-based leaching treatment under conditions in which a sulfurizing agent is also present; a reduction step in which a reduced solution is obtained by subjecting the leachate to a reduction treatment using a reducing agent; and an oxidation/neutralization step in which a solution that contains nickel and/or cobalt is obtained by adding an oxidizing agent and also a neutralizing agent to the reduced solution.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material that is used in a high-temperature operation type lithium ion solid secondary battery, wherein the positive electrode active material is made of oxide particles, which contains a first transition element and does not include an alkali metal.

Abstract: Provided is a slurry treatment apparatus includes: a treatment tank for performing any treatment of a solid-liquid reaction, a solid-gas reaction, a gas-liquid reaction, and solid-liquid separation on a slurry containing a metal or a metal compound; a first pipe; a second pipe; and a pump, in which one end of the first pipe has a suction opening for sucking the slurry from the treatment tank, the other end of the first pipe is connected to a suction port of the pump, one end of the second pipe is linked to a discharge port of the pump, the other end of the second pipe is connected to a microbubble generator, and the microbubble generator includes a throttle that throttles a flow of the slurry and a gas supply tube for supplying gas to the throttle, and supplies microbubbles to the slurry in the treatment tank.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for obtaining a lithium ion secondary battery, wherein capacity, electron conductivity, durability, and heat stability at the time of overcharge are improved, durability and heat stability being achieved at a high level, and including: a lithium nickel manganese composite oxide composed of secondary particles, in which a plurality of primary particles are flocculated, wherein the composite oxide is represented by a general formula (1): LidNi1-a-b-cMnaMbTicO2 (wherein, M is at least one kind of element selected from Co, W, Mo, V, Mg, Ca, Al, Cr, Zr and Ta, 0.05?a?0.60, 0?b?0.60, 0.02?c?0.08, 0.95?d?1.20), at least a part of titanium in the composite oxide is solid-solved in the primary particles, and, a lithium titanium compound exists on a surface of the positive electrode active material for the lithium ion secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite oxide that can achieve a high low-temperature output characteristic, a method for manufacturing the same, and a positive electrode active material in which the generation of soluble lithium is suppressed and a problem of gelation is not caused during the paste preparation. A positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, including a lithium-metal composite oxide powder including a secondary particle configured by aggregating primary particles containing lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, or a lithium-metal composite oxide powder including both the primary particles and the secondary particle. The secondary particle has a porous structure inside as a main inside structure, the slurry pH is 11.5 or less, the soluble lithium content rate is 0.5 [% by mass] or less, the specific surface area is 3.0 to 4.0 [m2/g], and the porosity is more than 50 to 80 [%].