A method of processing a polycrystalline diamond body includes positioning an electrode near the polycrystalline diamond body such that a gap is defined between the electrode and the polycrystalline diamond body, the polycrystalline diamond body having a metallic material disposed in interstitial spaces defined within the polycrystalline diamond body. The method includes applying a voltage between the electrode and the polycrystalline diamond body, and passing a processing solution through the gap. The electrode is a cathode and the polycrystalline diamond body is an anode. An assembly for processing a polycrystalline diamond body includes the polycrystalline diamond body, an electrode positioned such that a gap is defined between the electrode and the polycrystalline diamond body, a processing solution passing through the gap such that the processing solution is in electrical communication with each of the polycrystalline diamond body and the electrode, and at least one power source.

Metallurgical assemblies and systems according to the present technology may include a refractory vessel including sides and a base. The base may define a plurality of apertures centrally located within the base. The sides and the base may at least partially define an interior volume of the refractory vessel. The assemblies may include a lid removably coupled with the refractory vessel and configured to form a seal with the refractory vessel. The lid may define a plurality of apertures through the lid. The assemblies may also include a current collector proximate the base of the refractory vessel. The current collector may include conductive extensions positioned within the plurality of apertures centrally located within the base.

The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.

The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.

An electrolytic cell for producing aluminum metal is disclosed. The electrolytic cell comprises at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes and being supported above a corresponding at least one cathode module having a plurality of cathodes, the at least one anode module being supported by a positioning apparatus configured to move inside the cell for selectively positioning the plurality of anodes within the electrolytic cell relative to adjacent cathodes in order to adjust an anode-cathode distance (ACD) and/or an anode-cathode overlap (ACO). Preferably, the anodes are inert or oxygen-evolving electrodes for an eco-friendly or “green” production of a metal, such as aluminum (or aluminium).

A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a metallic article involve providing a non-metallic feedstock, for example in the form of an oxide of a desired metal or a mixture of oxides of the components of a desired metal alloy. A manufacturing apparatus has a reduction apparatus for electrochemically reducing the feedstock to a metallic product and a processor for converting the metallic product to a metallic powder. The powder is fed into an additive-manufacturing apparatus for fabricating the metallic article from the metallic powder. At least the reduction apparatus and the processor, and preferably also the additive-manufacturing apparatus, are collocated, or located in the same container, or in the same building, or on the same site.

Methods are proposed for extracting transition metal oxides from scrap batteries by dissolving the metal oxides in a glass-forming oxide melt, followed by electrolytic reduction of the transition metal onto the cathode of an electrolytic cell. Suitable glass-forming oxide melts include borate and pyrophosphate melts with added Na.sub.2O or NaF. The method is particularly suited to the recovery of cobalt, nickel, and manganese from scrap battery and electronic materials. A preferred recycling process includes first recovering lithium metal from scrap battery material, and then extracting transition metal oxides from the lithium-depleted material.

A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.

A method and electrolysis cell for producing lithium metal at a low temperature. The method includes combining (i) acetonitrile and (ii) a cation bis(trihaloalkylsulfonyl)imide, cation bis(trihalosulfonyl)imidic acid, a cation bis(trihaloalkylsulfonyl)amide, or cation bis(trihaloalkylsulfonyl)amidic acid in a weight ratio of (i) to (ii) about 100:1 to about 5:1 to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte composition. A lithium compound selected from the group consisting of LiOH, Li.sub.2O and Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 is dissolved in the electrolyte composition to provide a lithium doped electrolyte composition. Power is applied to the electrolyte composition to form lithium metal on a cathode of an electrolysis cell. The lithium metal separated from the cathode has a purity of at least about 95 wt. %.

A method and electrolysis cell for producing lithium metal at a low temperature. The method includes combining (i) acetonitrile and (ii) a cation bis(trihaloalkylsulfonyl)imide, cation bis(trihalosulfonyl)imidic acid, a cation bis(trihaloalkylsulfonyl)amide, or cation bis(trihaloalkylsulfonyl)amidic acid in a weight ratio of (i) to (ii) about 100:1 to about 5:1 to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte composition. A lithium compound selected from the group consisting of LiOH, Li.sub.2O and Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 is dissolved in the electrolyte composition to provide a lithium doped electrolyte composition. Power is applied to the electrolyte composition to form lithium metal on a cathode of an electrolysis cell. The lithium metal separated from the cathode has a purity of at least about 95 wt. %.