Alkali Metal, Singly Or In Combination Patents (Class 75/745)
  • Patent number: 9085813
    Abstract: An object is to recover metallic lithium from metallic lithium on which an unnecessary substance is formed without discarding the metallic lithium on which an unnecessary substance is formed. The present invention relates to a method for recovering metallic lithium in such a manner that metallic lithium on which a substance is formed is reacted with nitrogen to form lithium nitride; the lithium nitride is reacted with carbon dioxide to form lithium carbonate; the lithium carbonate is reacted with hydrochloric acid to form lithium chloride; the lithium chloride and potassium chloride are melted; and electrolysis is applied to the melted lithium chloride and potassium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumiko Saito, Junpei Momo, Rie Matsubara, Hiroatsu Todoriki
  • Patent number: 8992665
    Abstract: Provided is a valuable-metal recovery method for recovering metals from lithium ion batteries using comparatively simple equipment and without using a cumbersome process. In said method, a positive electrode material from lithium ion batteries, containing lithium and a transition metal, is dissolved in an acidic solution, thereby generating lithium ions and ions of the transition metal in the acidic solution. Said acidic solution and a recovery liquid are then made to flow with an anion-permeable membrane interposed therebetween, causing the lithium ions to permeate from the acidic solution to recovery solution. Lithium ions are then recovered from the recovery liquid containing dissolved lithium ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihide Yamaguchi, Takehiko Hasebe, Yasuko Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140377154
    Abstract: To provide a lithium recovery method which is capable of efficiently recovering lithium without containing impurities, such as phosphorus and fluorine. In the present invention, an alkali is added to a discharge liquid and/or a cleaning liquid containing lithium discharged in a process of recovering valuable metals from a lithium ion battery, an acidic solvent extractant is caused to be in contact with the discharge liquid and/or the cleaning liquid under a condition of pH 9 or less and a temperature of 0 to 25° C. and lithium ions are extracted, and the acidic solvent extractant having extracted the lithium ions is caused to be in contact with an acid solution of pH 3 or less and the lithium ions are stripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishida, Satoshi Asano
  • Publication number: 20140187452
    Abstract: This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of iron, silica, and manganese compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain a concentration of manganese less than 10 mg/kg, a concentration of silica ranging from less than 10 mg/kg, and a concentration of iron less than 10 mg/kg, and the treated geothermal brine is derived from a Salton Sea geothermal reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Simbol Inc
    Inventors: Stephen Harrison, John Burba, III
  • Patent number: 8663361
    Abstract: Approaches for alkali metal extraction, sequestration and recovery are described. For example, a method of recovering alkali metals includes providing a CST or CST-like (e.g., small pore zeolite) material. The alkali metal species is scavenged from the liquid mixture by the CST or CST-like material. The alkali metal species is extracted from the CST or CST-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Krumhansl, Mark J. Rigali
  • Patent number: 8444744
    Abstract: A method for extracting nickel and lithium includes solvent extraction step of using three or more extraction stages to subject a solution containing lithium and nickel to solvent extraction with 2-Ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester at a pH of 8.0 to 8.5, whereby the nickel and the lithium are co-extracted into a resultant organic phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Narisako, Toshiyuki Yamaoka, Daisuke Kobayashi, Naoki Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20110237840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing potassium and potassium compounds
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Hagen Wilmer, Andreas Keller
  • Publication number: 20110123822
    Abstract: A strip-like or sheet-like valve metal or valve metal suboxide structure which has a transverse dimension of from 5 to 100 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: H.C. Starck GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Gille, Christoph Schnitter, Holger Brumm, Helmut Haas, Robert Müller, Manfred Bobeth
  • Publication number: 20080302297
    Abstract: It is provided a method for gently and safely recovering only sodium metal from a flux containing sodium metal in a short time and in a reusable form. Flux 23 is heated in a medium 19 unreactive with sodium metal 22 at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of sodium metal to separate and recover the sodium metal 22 from the flux 23. The medium is a hydrocarbon, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikiya Ichimura, Katsuhiro Imai
  • Publication number: 20080000647
    Abstract: Disclosed are cover gas compositions comprising at least one pentafluoropropane for impeding the oxidation of molten nonferrous metals and alloys, such as magnesium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew H. Luly, Rajiv R. Singh
  • Publication number: 20080003127
    Abstract: Disclosed are cover gas compositions comprising fluoroolefins for impeding the oxidation of molten nonferrous metals and alloys, such as magnesium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew H. Luly, Rajiv R. Singh
  • Patent number: 6624380
    Abstract: A device and method for producing sodium (Na) from a feed material such as a mixture of methane (CH4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) includes a plasma torch configured to heat the feed material to a temperature sufficient to reduce and ionize sodium (Na). As such, a plasma jet is created by the plasma torch that contains ionized sodium (Na) and non-ionized neutrals such as hydrogen (H) and carbon monoxide (CO). From the plasma torch, the plasma jet is introduced into a chamber where a magnetic field has been established. Once inside the chamber the heated mixture of ions and neutrals interacts with the magnetic field in the chamber to cause the sodium ions to travel substantially along the magnetic field lines while the neutrals travel on paths that are essentially unaffected by the magnetic field. A collector is positioned to receive and accumulate sodium (Na).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Archimedes Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Agnew, Sergei Putvinski
  • Patent number: 6231636
    Abstract: A set of processes for preparing metal powders, including metal alloy powders, by ambient temperature reduction of a reducible metal compound by a reactive metal or metal hydride through mechanochemical processing. The reduction process includes milling reactants to induce and complete the reduction reaction. The preferred reducing agents include magnesium and calcium hydride powders. A process of pre-milling magnesium as a reducing agent to increase the activity of the magnesium has been established as one part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis H. Froes, Baburaj G. Eranezhuth, Keith Prisbrey
  • Patent number: 5948140
    Abstract: A process and system and for extracting and refining gold from ores using relatively benign and inexpensive chemicals, fewer process steps, and permitting the recycling and re-use of process chemicals. The invention is preferably implemented as a two part process. In a first part process, gold is extracted from the ore and dissolved in a chemical solution to form a gold complex. The chemical solution preferably includes a KI and I.sub.2. Optionally, Isopropyl alcohol is mixed with the KI and I.sub.2 to serve as an accelerate. In a second part process, the complex is reduced to gold from the solution, preferably by one of two methods. The first method precipitates the gold complex by washing and decomposing of the gold complex to form pure gold. The second method electrolytically plates the gold from the gold complex solution onto a cathode to obtain pure gold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Paul L. Hickman
    Inventor: Nagesh K. Vodrahalli
  • Patent number: 4979986
    Abstract: A method of treating a gold-bearing ore to render the gold component of the ore more amenable to standard cyanidation treatment in a reduced amount of time is disclosed. An aqueous slurry of the gold-bearing ore is introduced into at least one vessel. An oxidizing agent, such as chlorine gas, an alkali metal hypochlorite and an alkaline earth metal hypochlorite, is rapidly introduced into the vessel so that it intimately contacts the aqueous slurry. While the oxidizing agent is being introduced into the vessel, the slurry is agitated with agitating means including a plurality of impeller blades that provide high shear agitation and a large interfacial surface area between the oxidizing agent and the liquid phase of the slurry to enhance the mass transfer of the oxidizing agent so that it becomes substantially completely adsorbed by the aqueous slurry in about 5 to about 15 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Newmont Gold Company and Outomec U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Hill, Kenneth A. Brunk