Abstract: Provided are processes for extracting nickel and lithium from a Ni2+/Li+ solution. The process for extracting nickel and lithium includes providing a Ni2+/Li+ solution comprising an amount of lithium and an amount of nickel, treating the Ni2+/Li+ solution with an alkaline agent to adjust the pH of the Ni2+/Li+ solution to between about 1.0 to about 10.0, and treating the Ni2+/Li+ solution with a nickel selective extractant, the nickel selective extractant suitable to extract nickel from the Ni2+/Li+ solution at said pH to thereby produce a Li+ solution with less than 1000 parts per million Ni2+. Once complete, the process provides for recoverable nickel and/or lithium that may be recycled into batteries or sold for other uses.

Abstract: A pyro-metallurgical process for producing a non-ferrous metal or a compound thereof, wherein a metal raw material is fed into a rotary kiln, the metal being one of arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), nickel (Ni), or zinc (Zn). The raw material is heated to produce a volatized material, in which the non-ferrous metal or compound thereof is produced from the volatized material. A magnesium-based additive is additionally fed to the rotary kiln in an amount of between 0.5 wt. % and 9.5 wt. % relative to the total weight of the raw material. The magnesium-based additive is heated together with the raw material to produce the volatized material and a solid product while also counteracting ring formation in the rotary kiln.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing potassium and potassium compounds

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.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed are cover gas compositions comprising fluoroolefins for impeding the oxidation of molten nonferrous metals and alloys, such as magnesium.

Abstract: Disclosed are cover gas compositions comprising at least one pentafluoropropane for impeding the oxidation of molten nonferrous metals and alloys, such as magnesium.

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).

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.

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.

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.