Patents by Inventor Lennart SCHEUNIS

Lennart SCHEUNIS 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).

  • Publication number: 20240384371
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the concentration of lithium in metallurgical fumes wherein a metallurgical charge is smelted, thus obtaining a molten bath comprising a slag phase and optionally an alloy phase and fuming the lithium from the molten slag, by addition of a halogen intermediate, wherein the halogen intermediate is produced from the Li halide fumed from the molten slag. The halide is thus efficiently re-used in the process, while the lithium is recovered and isolated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Lennart SCHEUNIS, Wouter SCHUTYSER, Pieter VERHEES
  • Publication number: 20240384370
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the concentration of lithium in metallurgical fumes wherein a metallurgical charge is smelted, thus obtaining a molten bath comprising a slag phase and optionally an alloy phase and fuming the lithium from the molten slag, by addition of a halogen intermediate, wherein said halogen intermediate is a gaseous halogen or gaseous halogen compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Lennart SCHEUNIS, Wouter Schutyser, Pieter Verhees
  • Publication number: 20240258597
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a 2-step smelting process, for recovering of Ni and Co from batteries and other sources. The process comprises the steps of: defining an oxidizing level Ox, and a battery-bearing metallurgical charge; oxidizing smelting of the metallurgical charge by injecting an O2-bearing gas into the melt to reach the defined oxidizing level Ox; and, reducing smelting of the obtained slag using a heat source and a reducing agent. The process is more energy-efficient than a single-step reducing smelting process and provides for a higher purity alloy and for a cleaner final slag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventor: Lennart SCHEUNIS
  • Patent number: 11952643
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a process for the concentration of lithium in metallurgical fumes. The process comprises the steps of: —providing a metallurgical molten bath furnace; —preparing a metallurgical charge comprising lithium-bearing material, transition metals, and fluxing agents; —smelting the metallurgical charge and fluxing agents in reducing conditions in said furnace, thereby obtaining a molten bath with an alloy and a slag phase; and, —optionally separating the alloy and the slag phase; characterized in that a major part of the lithium is fumed as LiCl from the molten slag, by addition of alkali or earth alkali chloride to the process. Using a single smelting step, valuable transition metals such as cobalt and nickel also present in the charge are collected in an alloy phase, while the lithium reports to the fumes. The lithium in the fumes is available in concentrated form, suitable for subsequent hydrometallurgical processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Lennart Scheunis, Willem Callebaut
  • Patent number: 11926884
    Abstract: A 2-step high temperature process for recovering Ni, Co, and Mn from various sources comprises preparing a metallurgical charge comprising materials containing Ni, Co, and Mn, and Si, Al, Ca and Mg as slag formers; smelting the charge with slag formers in first reducing conditions, thereby obtaining a Ni—Co alloy comprising a major part of at least one of Co and Ni, with Si<0.1%, and a first slag comprising the major part of the Mn; separation of the first slag from the alloy; and, smelting the first slag in second reducing conditions, more reducing than said first reducing conditions, thereby obtaining a Si—Mn alloy comprising the major part of the Mn, with Si>10%, and a second slag. A Ni—Co alloy is produced, and a Si—Mn alloy is produced. The second slag is essentially free of heavy metals and therefore suitable for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Lennart Scheunis, Isabel Vermeulen
  • Publication number: 20230369667
    Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste, particularly from Black Mass. The slag composition is defined according to: 25% < MnO < 70%; Al2O3 + 0.5 MnO < 45% SiO2 > 5%; Li2O > 1%; MnO + Li2O + Al2O3 + CaO + SiO2 + FeO + MgO + P2O5 > 90%; and, wherein (CaO + 2 Li2O + 0.4 MnO) / SiO2 ? 2.0. This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the wear or corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ryohei YAGI, Lennart SCHEUNIS
  • Publication number: 20230250511
    Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste. The slag composition is defined according to: This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Ryohei YAGI, Lennart SCHEUNIS
  • Patent number: 11695169
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns the production of precursor compounds for lithium battery cathodes. Batteries or their scrap are smelted in reducing conditions, thereby forming an alloy suitable for further hydrometallurgical refining, and a slag. The alloy is leached in acidic conditions, producing a Ni- and Co-bearing solution, which is refined. The refining steps are greatly simplified as most elements susceptible to interfere with the refining steps concentrate in the slag. Metals such as Co, Ni and Mn are then precipitated from the solution, forming a suitable starting product for the synthesis of new battery precursor compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: UMICORE
    Inventors: Harald Oosterhof, Jean Scoyer, Lennart Scheunis, Bart Klaasen, Willem Callebaut
  • Patent number: 11661638
    Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste. The slag composition is defined according to: 10%<MnO<40%; (CaO+1.5*Li2O)/Al2O3>0.3; CaO+0.8*MnO+0.8*Li2O<60%; (CaO+2*Li2O+0.4*MnO)/SiO2?2.0; Li2?1%; and, Al2O3+SiO2+CaO+Li2O+MnO+FeO+MgO>85%. This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: UMICORE
    Inventors: Ryohei Yagi, Lennart Scheunis
  • Publication number: 20230002856
    Abstract: A 2-step high temperature process for recovering Ni, Co, and Mn from various sources comprises preparing a metallurgical charge comprising materials containing Ni, Co, and Mn, and Si, Al, Ca and Mg as slag formers; smelting the charge with slag formers in first reducing conditions, thereby obtaining a Ni—Co alloy comprising a major part of at least one of Co and Ni, with Si<0.1%, and a first slag comprising the major part of the Mn; separation of the first slag from the alloy; and, smelting the first slag in second reducing conditions, more reducing than said first reducing conditions, thereby obtaining a Si—Mn alloy comprising the major part of the Mn, with Si>10%, and a second slag. A Ni—Co alloy is produced, and a Si—Mn alloy is produced. The second slag is essentially free of heavy metals and therefore suitable for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Lennart SCHEUNIS, Isabel VERMEULEN
  • Publication number: 20220403483
    Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste. The slag composition is defined according to: 10%<MnO<40%; (CaO+1.5*Li2O)/Al2O3>0.3; CaO+0.8*MnO+0.8*Li2O<60%; (CaO+2*Li2O+0.4*MnO)/SiO2?2.0; Li2?1%; and, Al2O3+SiO2+CaO+Li2O+MnO+FeO+MgO>85%. This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Ryohei YAGI, Lennart SCHEUNIS
  • Publication number: 20220216534
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns the production of precursor compounds for lithium battery cathodes. Batteries or their scrap are smelted in reducing conditions, thereby forming an alloy suitable for further hydrometallurgical refining, and a slag. The alloy is leached in acidic conditions, producing a Ni- and Co-bearing solution, which is refined. The refining steps are greatly simplified as most elements susceptible to interfere with the refining steps concentrate in the slag. Metals such as Co, Ni and Mn are then precipitated from the solution, forming a suitable starting product for the synthesis of new battery precursor compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Harald OOSTERHOF, Jean SCOYER, Lennart SCHEUNIS, Bart KLAASEN, Willem CALLEBAUT
  • Publication number: 20220017990
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a process for the concentration of lithium in metallurgical fumes. The process comprises the steps of: —providing a metallurgical molten bath furnace; —preparing a metallurgical charge comprising lithium-bearing material, transition metals, and fluxing agents; —smelting the metallurgical charge and fluxing agents in reducing conditions in said furnace, thereby obtaining a molten bath with an alloy and a slag phase; and, —optionally separating the alloy and the slag phase; characterized in that a major part of the lithium is fumed as LiCl from the molten slag, by addition of alkali or earth alkali chloride to the process. Using a single smelting step, valuable transition metals such as cobalt and nickel also present in the charge are collected in an alloy phase, while the lithium reports to the fumes. The lithium in the fumes is available in concentrated form, suitable for subsequent hydrometallurgical processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Lennart SCHEUNIS, Willem CALLEBAUT