Patents by Inventor Junichi Arakawa

Junichi Arakawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12534776
    Abstract: A method for producing a mixed metal solution containing manganese ions and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, the method including: an Al removal step of subjecting an acidic solution containing at least manganese ions and aluminum ions, and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, to removal of the aluminum ions by extracting the aluminum ions into a solvent while leaving at least a part of the manganese ions in the acidic solution in an aqueous phase, the acidic solution being obtained by subjecting battery powder of lithium ion batteries to a leaching step; and a metal extraction step of bringing an extracted residual liquid obtained in the Al removal step to an equilibrium pH of 6.5 to 7.5 using a solvent containing a carboxylic acid-based extracting agent, extracting at least one of the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and the nickel ions into the solvent, and then back-extracting the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and nickel ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2026
    Assignee: JX METALS CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Arakawa, Kazunori Tajiri
  • Publication number: 20260015246
    Abstract: Provided is a method for recovering metals, which can produce a lithium hydroxide solution from a metal-containing solution and appropriately process the impurities separated at that time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Applicant: JX METALS CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei SHIKADA, Naoki HIGUCHI, Junichi ARAKAWA
  • Patent number: 12522514
    Abstract: A method for producing mixed metal salts containing manganese ions and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, the method including: an Al removal step of subjecting an acidic solution containing at least manganese ions and aluminum ions, and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, to removal of the aluminum ions by extracting the aluminum ions into a solvent, the acidic solution being obtained by subjecting battery powder of lithium ion batteries to a leaching step; and a precipitation step of neutralizing an extracted residual liquid obtained in the Al removal step under conditions where a pH is less than 10.0, to precipitate mixed metal salts comprising a metal salt of manganese and a metal salt of at least one of cobalt and nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: JX METALS CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Arakawa, Kazunori Tajiri
  • Publication number: 20250215524
    Abstract: Provided is a method for recovering metals, which can produce a lithium hydroxide solution from a metal-containing solution and appropriately process the impurities separated at that time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Applicant: JX METALS CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi ARAKAWA, Hiromichi KASHIMURA, Eriko KAMIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20250154625
    Abstract: A method for recovering neodecanoic acid or a phosphonate ester-based extractant from an aqueous solution containing the neodecanoic acid or the phosphonate ester-based extractant, wherein an equilibrium pH is 5.5 or less when the neodecanoic acid or the phosphonate ester-based extractant is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: JX METALS CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Junichi ARAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20250043386
    Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently recovering metals from lithium ion battery waste while reducing the use of sodium hydroxide as a pH adjuster. A method for recovering metals from lithium ion battery waste includes wet processing of leaching metals containing lithium from lithium ion battery waste with an acid, and extracting the metals from the metal-containing solution in which the metals are dissolved, in which the lithium extracted in the wet processing is used as a pH adjuster used in the wet processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: JX Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka ARIYOSHI, Junichi ITO, Junichi ARAKAWA, Hiroshi ABE
  • Patent number: 11961980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating lithium ion battery scrap containing Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cu and Fe, the method comprising carrying out a calcination step, a crushing step and a sieving step in this order, and after the steps, the method comprising: a leaching step of leaching the lithium ion battery scrap by adding it to an acidic solution to leave at least a part of Cu as a solid; a Fe/Al removal step comprising allowing a leached solution obtained in the leaching step to pass through a Fe removal process for separating and removing Fe by addition of an oxidizing agent and an Al removal process for separating and removing a part of Al by neutralization in any order; an Al/Mn extraction step of extracting and removing a residue of Al and Mn from a separated solution obtained in the Fe/Al removal step by solvent extraction; a Co recovery step of extracting and back-extracting Co from a first extracted solution obtained in the Al/Mn extraction step by solvent extraction and recovering the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: JX METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Arakawa, Yasufumi Haga, Junichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20230312369
    Abstract: A method for producing mixed metal salts containing manganese ions and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, the method including: an Al removal step of subjecting an acidic solution containing at least manganese ions and aluminum ions, and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, to removal of the aluminum ions by extracting the aluminum ions into a solvent, the acidic solution being obtained by subjecting battery powder of lithium ion batteries to a leaching step; and a precipitation step of neutralizing an extracted residual liquid obtained in the Al removal step under conditions where a pH is less than 10.0, to precipitate mixed metal salts comprising a metal salt of manganese and a metal salt of at least one of cobalt and nickel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi ARAKAWA, Kazunori TAJIRI
  • Publication number: 20230304130
    Abstract: A method for recovering lithium from lithium ion battery scrap according to this invention comprises subjecting lithium ion battery scrap to a calcination step, a crushing step, and a sieving step sequentially carried out, wherein the method comprises, between the calcination step and the crushing step, between the crushing step and the sieving step, or after the sieving step, a lithium dissolution step of bringing the lithium ion battery scrap into contact with water and dissolving lithium contained in the lithium ion battery scrap in the water to obtain a lithium-dissolved solution; a lithium concentration step of solvent-extracting lithium ions contained in the lithium-dissolved solution and stripping them to concentrate the lithium ions to obtain a lithium concentrate; and a carbonation step of carbonating the lithium ions in the lithium concentrate to obtain lithium carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi ARAKAWA, Yasufumi HAGA, Junichi ITO
  • Patent number: 11702719
    Abstract: A method for recovering lithium from lithium ion battery scrap according to this invention comprises subjecting lithium ion battery scrap to a calcination step, a crushing step, and a sieving step sequentially carried out, wherein the method comprises, between the calcination step and the crushing step, between the crushing step and the sieving step, or after the sieving step, a lithium dissolution step of bringing the lithium ion battery scrap into contact with water and dissolving lithium contained in the lithium ion battery scrap in the water to obtain a lithium-dissolved solution; a lithium concentration step of solvent-extracting lithium ions contained in the lithium-dissolved solution and stripping them to concentrate the lithium ions to obtain a lithium concentrate; and a carbonation step of carbonating the lithium ions in the lithium concentrate to obtain lithium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Arakawa, Yasufumi Haga, Junichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20230193422
    Abstract: A method for producing a mixed metal solution containing manganese ions and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, the method including: an Al removal step of subjecting an acidic solution containing at least manganese ions and aluminum ions, and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, to removal of the aluminum ions by extracting the aluminum ions into a solvent while leaving at least a part of the manganese ions in the acidic solution in an aqueous phase, the acidic solution being obtained by subjecting battery powder of lithium ion batteries to a leaching step; and a metal extraction step of bringing an extracted residual liquid obtained in the Al removal step to an equilibrium pH of 6.5 to 7.5 using a solvent containing a carboxylic acid-based extracting agent, extracting at least one of the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and the nickel ions into the solvent, and then back-extracting the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and nickel ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi ARAKAWA, Kazunori TAJIRI
  • Patent number: 11434545
    Abstract: A method for recovering lithium according to this invention comprises separating sodium from a lithium-containing solution containing lithium ions and sodium ions to recover lithium, wherein the method comprises a solvent extraction step including: at least three-stage extraction process having a first extraction process, a second extraction process, and a third extraction process; and a lithium back extraction stage of back extracting the lithium ions from a solvent that have undergone the at least three-stage extraction process; and wherein, in the extraction process, the solvent undergoes the first extraction process, the second extraction process, and the third extraction process in this order, and a solution as the lithium-containing solution undergoes the respective processes in opposite order to the order of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20210108285
    Abstract: A method for recovering lithium according to this invention comprises separating sodium from a lithium-containing solution containing lithium ions and sodium ions to recover lithium, wherein the method comprises a solvent extraction step including: at least three-stage extraction process having a first extraction process, a second extraction process, and a third extraction process; and a lithium back extraction stage of back extracting the lithium ions from a solvent that have undergone the at least three-stage extraction process; and wherein, in the extraction process, the solvent undergoes the first extraction process, the second extraction process, and the third extraction process in this order, and a solution as the lithium-containing solution undergoes the respective processes in opposite order to the order of the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi ARAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210108286
    Abstract: A method for recovering lithium from lithium ion battery scrap according to this invention comprises subjecting lithium ion battery scrap to a calcination step, a crushing step, and a sieving step sequentially carried out, wherein the method comprises, between the calcination step and the crushing step, between the crushing step and the sieving step, or after the sieving step, a lithium dissolution step of bringing the lithium ion battery scrap into contact with water and dissolving lithium contained in the lithium ion battery scrap in the water to obtain a lithium-dissolved solution; a lithium concentration step of solvent-extracting lithium ions contained in the lithium-dissolved solution and stripping them to concentrate the lithium ions to obtain a lithium concentrate; and a carbonation step of carbonating the lithium ions in the lithium concentrate to obtain lithium carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi ARAKAWA, Yasufumi HAGA, Junichi ITO
  • Patent number: 10865462
    Abstract: A method for processing lithium ion battery scrap includes a leaching step of leaching lithium ion battery scrap and subjecting the resulting leached solution to solid-liquid separation to obtain a first separated solution; an iron removal step of adding an oxidizing agent to the first separated solution and adjusting a pH of the first separated solution in a range of from 3.0 to 4.0, then performing solid-liquid separation and removing iron in the first separated solution to obtain a second separated solution; and an aluminum removal step of neutralizing the second separated solution to a pH range of from 4.0 to 6.0, then performing solid-liquid separation and removing aluminum in the second separated solution to obtain a third separated solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Ito, Junichi Arakawa, Takuya Yokota, Naoki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10807879
    Abstract: A method for processing lithium ion battery scrap according to this invention includes a leaching step of leaching lithium ion battery scrap to obtain a leached solution; an aluminum removal step of neutralizing the leached solution to a pH range of from 4.0 to 6.0, then performing solid-liquid separation and removing aluminum in the leached solution to obtain a first separated solution; and an iron removal step of adding an oxidizing agent to the first separated solution and adjusting the pH in a range of from 3.0 to 5.0, then performing solid-liquid separation and removing iron in the first separated solution to obtain a second separated solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Ito, Junichi Arakawa, Takuya Yokota, Naoki Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20200044295
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating lithium ion battery scrap containing Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cu and Fe, the method comprising carrying out a calcination step, a crushing step and a sieving step in this order, and after the steps, the method comprising: a leaching step of leaching the lithium ion battery scrap by adding it to an acidic solution to leave at least a part of Cu as a solid; a Fe/Al removal step comprising allowing a leached solution obtained in the leaching step to pass through a Fe removal process for separating and removing Fe by addition of an oxidizing agent and an Al removal process for separating and removing a part of Al by neutralization in any order; an Al/Mn extraction step of extracting and removing a residue of Al and Mn from a separated solution obtained in the Fe/Al removal step by solvent extraction; a Co recovery step of extracting and back-extracting Co from a first extracted solution obtained in the Al/Mn extraction step by solvent extraction and recovering the
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi ARAKAWA, Yasufumi HAGA, Junichi ITO
  • Patent number: 10443111
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing iron from an iron-containing solution containing an iron ion, comprising adding a lithium ion battery cathode material containing manganese to an acidic sulfuric acid solution to obtain a cathode material-containing solution, and then precipitating a manganese ion as manganese dioxide in a mixed solution obtained by mixing the iron-containing solution with the cathode material-containing solution while precipitating the iron ion contained in the iron-containing solution as a solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Arakawa, Junichi Ito, Takuya Yokota
  • Patent number: 10400304
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing copper from lithium ion battery scrap containing copper, comprising a leaching step of adding the lithium ion battery scrap to an acidic solution and leaching the lithium ion battery scrap under a condition that an aluminum solid is present in the acidic solution; and a copper separating step of separating copper contained in the acidic solution as a solid from the acidic solution, after the leaching step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Adachi, Junichi Arakawa, Junichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20190106768
    Abstract: A method for processing lithium ion battery scrap includes a leaching step of leaching lithium ion battery scrap and subjecting the resulting leached solution to solid-liquid separation to obtain a first separated solution; an iron removal step of adding an oxidizing agent to the first separated solution and adjusting a pH of the first separated solution in a range of from 3.0 to 4.0, then performing solid-liquid separation and removing iron in the first separated solution to obtain a second separated solution; and an aluminum removal step of neutralizing the second separated solution to a pH range of from 4.0 to 6.0, then performing solid-liquid separation and removing aluminum in the second separated solution to obtain a third separated solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi ITO, Junichi ARAKAWA, Takuya YOKOTA, Naoki HIGUCHI