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.

Provided are a battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution and a preparation method for a battery-level Mn solution, the steps thereof comprising: acid dissolution (S1), alkalization to remove impurities (S2), synchronous precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and lithium (S3), deep ageing to remove impurities (S4), synergistic extraction (S5), and refining extraction (S6). The steps of deep ageing to remove impurities (S4) and synergistic extraction (S5) comprise: performing deep ageing on a filtrate obtained from the step of synchronous precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and lithium (S3), and after performing filtration to remove impurities, obtaining an aged filtrate; using P204 to extract the aged filtrate and obtain a loaded organic phase, and subjecting the loaded organic phase to staged back-extraction to obtain the battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution and a Mn-containing solution. By means of the cooperation between the multiple process steps of synchronous precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and lithium (S3), deep ageing to remove impurities (S4), and synergistic extraction (S5), the impurity content of the obtained battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution is significantly lowered, and the battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution can be directly used to prepare a lithium battery ternary precursor material. At the same time, the battery-level Mn solution can also be obtained, which is favorable for large-scale applications of the process and increasing economic benefits.

A method for recycling a battery including the following steps: a) dissolution of a battery waste, for example an electrode, including lithium and a metal selected from cobalt and manganese, such that a solution to be treated containing lithium ions and metal ions is formed, b) addition of a peroxymonosulfate salt to the solution to be treated, the solution to be treated being regulated at a pH ranging from 1 to 4 when the metal is cobalt or at a pH ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 when the metal is manganese, such that the metal ions are selectively precipitated in the form of metal oxyhydroxide, c) separation of the lithium ions from the solution to be treated. Advantageously, the solution further comprises nickel ions.

An apparatus, method and system are provided to recover constituent components from single use batteries. In particular, the apparatus, method and system may be used to recover zinc and manganese in the form of sulfates from depleted commercial which in turn may be subsequently used for other applications, such as micronutrients and fertilizers.

Formation of CaSO.sub.4 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 containing deposits is reduced in a pressure oxidation autoclave and/or adjacent circuits during pressure oxidation of gold-containing ore. The gold-containing ore is combined with water to create an aqueous slurry that is heated and introduced into the autoclave. The method includes providing a scale inhibitor that is free of an organic polymer and includes an inorganic phosphate according to formula (I), (XPO.sub.3).sub.m, wherein X is Na, K, H, or combinations thereof, and m is at least about 6, an inorganic phosphate according to formula (II), Y.sub.n+2P.sub.nO.sub.3n+1, wherein Y is Na, K, H, an organic phosphonate; or combinations thereof, and n is at least about 6. The method includes the step of combining the scale inhibitor and at least one of the gold-containing ore, the water, and the aqueous slurry to reduce scale.

Formation of CaSO.sub.4 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 containing deposits is reduced in a pressure oxidation autoclave and/or adjacent circuits during pressure oxidation of gold-containing ore. The gold-containing ore is combined with water to create an aqueous slurry that is heated and introduced into the autoclave. The method includes providing a scale inhibitor that is free of an organic polymer and includes an inorganic phosphate according to formula (I), (XPO.sub.3).sub.m, wherein X is Na, K, H, or combinations thereof, and m is at least about 6, an inorganic phosphate according to formula (II), Y.sub.n+2P.sub.nO.sub.3n+1, wherein Y is Na, K, H, an organic phosphonate; or combinations thereof, and n is at least about 6. The method includes the step of combining the scale inhibitor and at least one of the gold-containing ore, the water, and the aqueous slurry to reduce scale.

A method for preparing lead directly from a lead-containing material by a solid phase reaction, includes: step 1, adding the lead-containing material to be processed to the grinder, and adding a metal substance and water to the grinder, wherein an activity of the metal substance is larger than that of lead; the solid phase reaction between the lead-containing material and the metal substance is caused directly by the grinder through a mechanical force to obtain a reaction product; step 2, washing and filtering the reaction product to obtain the lead and a metal salt solution corresponding to the metal substance; step 3, performing a melt casting on the lead to obtain a crude lead, crystallizing the metal salt solution to obtain a metal salt corresponding to the metal substance.

Provided are a battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution and a preparation method for a battery-level Mn solution, the steps thereof comprising: acid dissolution (S1), alkalization to remove impurities (S2), synchronous precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and lithium (S3), deep ageing to remove impurities (S4), synergistic extraction (S5), and refining extraction (S6).

The steps of deep ageing to remove impurities (S4) and synergistic extraction (S5) comprise: performing deep ageing on a filtrate obtained from the step of synchronous precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and lithium (S3), and after performing filtration to remove impurities, obtaining an aged filtrate; using P204 to extract the aged filtrate and obtain a loaded organic phase, and subjecting the loaded organic phase to staged back-extraction to obtain the battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution and a Mn-containing solution. By means of the cooperation between the multiple process steps of synchronous precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and lithium (S3), deep ageing to remove impurities (S4), and synergistic extraction (S5), the impurity content of the obtained battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution is significantly lowered, and the battery-level Ni—Co—Mn mixed solution can be directly used to prepare a lithium battery ternary precursor material. At the same time, the battery-level Mn solution can also be obtained, which is favorable for large-scale applications of the process and increasing economic benefits.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a process for removing fluoride from a solution or suspension containing zinc, in particular a solution of zinc sulfate, a defluoridated solution of zinc sulfate obtainable by such a process, its use as well as processes for producing zinc and hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid. The process for removing fluoride comprises (i) providing a solution or suspension A containing zinc, wherein the solution or suspension A containing zinc further contains fluoride ions; (ii) adding a solution B containing a dissolved salt of a rare earth element to the solution or suspension A containing zinc, wherein a solid comprising a rare earth element fluoride and a solution C containing zinc are formed; and (iii) separating the solid from the solution C containing zinc, wherein the solution C containing zinc has a lower concentration of fluoride ions than the solution or suspension A containing zinc.

It is provided a process for recycling lithium ion batteries comprising shredding the lithium-ion batteries and immersing residues in an organic solvent; feeding the shredded batteries residues in a dryer producing a gaseous organic phase and dried batteries residues; feeding the dried batteries residues to a magnetic separator removing magnetic particles; grinding the non-magnetic batteries residues; mixing the fine particles and an acid producing a metal oxides slurry and leaching said metal oxides slurry; filtering the leachate removing the non-leachable metals; feeding the leachate into a sulfide precipitation tank; neutralizing the leachate; mixing the leachate with an organic extraction solvent; separating cobalt and manganese from the leachate using solvent extraction and electrolysis; crystallizing sodium sulfate from the aqueous phase; adding sodium carbonate to the liquor and heating up the sodium carbonate and the liquor producing a precipitate of lithium carbonate; and drying and recuperating the lithium carbonate.