Abstract: The present invention concerns a slag composition having a high lithium content, suitable as additive in the manufacture of end-user products, or for the economic recovery of the contained lithium. The lithium concentration indeed compares favorably with that of spodumene, the classic mineral mined for lithium production. This slag is characterized by a composition according to: 3%<Li2O<20%; 1%<MnO<7%; 38%<Al2O3<65%; CaO<55%; and, SiO2<45%.

Abstract: A process is divulged for recovering metals from a metal-bearing material containing, in oxidized form, more than 1% of Co, a total of Co and Ni of more than 15%, and more than 1% Mg. comprising smelting said metal-bearing material in a bath furnace together with slag formers, thereby producing an alloy phase with more than 80% of the Co, and less than 1% of the Mg, and a slag phase, by applying reducing smelting conditions, and by selecting CaO, SiO2, and A1203 as slag -formers, in amounts to obtain a final slag composition according to the ratio's 0.25 <SiO2/Al2O3<2.5, 0.5 <SiO2/CaO<2.5, and MgO>10%; and separating the alloy phase from the slag phase. This process ensures quantitative recovery of Co in an alloy phase along with other metals such as Ni, while collecting Mg into a slag.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the recovery of cobalt from cobalt-bearing materials, in particular from cobalt-bearing lithium-ion secondary batteries, from the spent batteries, or from their scrap. A process is divulged for the recovery of cobalt from cobalt-bearing materials, comprising the steps of: providing a converter furnace, charging slag formers and one or more of copper matte, copper-nickel matte, and impure alloy into the furnace, and injecting an oxidizing gas so as to smelt the charge in oxidizing conditions, thereby obtaining a molten bath comprising a crude metal phase, and a cobalt-bearing slag, and separating the crude metal from the cobalt-bearing slag, characterized in that the cobalt-bearing materials are charged into the furnace. This process is particularly suitable for recycling cobalt-bearing lithium-ion secondary batteries.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a slag composition having a high lithium content, suitable as additive in the manufacture of end-user products, or for the economic recovery of the contained lithium. The lithium concentration indeed compares favorably with that of spodumene, the classic mineral mined for lithium production. This slag is characterized by a composition according to: 3%<Li2O<20%; 1%<MnO<7%; 38%<Al2O3<65%; CaO<55%; and, SiO2<45%.