A device for producing purified, especially high-purity, magnesium includes a reactor for vacuum distillation that is extended along a longitudinal axis (L). The reactor defines a reactor inner chamber having a heating region for heating magnesium. A crucible forms a crucible inner chamber for receiving purified magnesium vaporized and condensed by the device. A radial projection in the heating region defines a contact surface that extends essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) and forms an essentially sealed connection with an edge of the crucible adjacent to the crucible inner chamber.

A method of extracting purified lithium sulfate brine from sedimentary rock is disclosed. The method includes the steps of sizing sedimentary rock ore, suspending the sized ore in an aqueous solution, and separating the aqueous solution into lithium bearing slurry and low lithium gangue. The lithium bearing slurry is then treated with an acid, dissolving lithium from the sedimentary rock and forming precipitates which are subsequently removed the slurry, forming an acidic lithium sulfate filtrate solution. The pH of the acidic lithium sulfate filtrate solution is then modified to form further precipitates which are then separated. The neutralized lithium sulfate solution is then crystallized to remove magnesium and potassium, and treated with quicklime, soda ash solution, and/or oxalic acid to form additional precipitates. Finally the additional precipitates are separated from the solution, and the solution is passed through an ion exchange apparatus, forming a purified lithium sulfate brine.

A method of extracting purified lithium sulfate brine from sedimentary rock is disclosed. The method includes the steps of sizing sedimentary rock ore, suspending the sized ore in an aqueous solution, and separating the aqueous solution into lithium bearing slurry and low lithium gangue. The lithium bearing slurry is then treated with an acid, dissolving lithium from the sedimentary rock and forming precipitates which are subsequently removed the slurry, forming an acidic lithium sulfate filtrate solution. The pH of the acidic lithium sulfate filtrate solution is then modified to form further precipitates which are then separated. The neutralized lithium sulfate solution is then crystallized to remove magnesium and potassium, and treated with quicklime, soda ash solution, and/or oxalic acid to form additional precipitates. Finally the additional precipitates are separated from the solution, and the solution is passed through an ion exchange apparatus, forming a purified lithium sulfate brine.

A method of recovering active materials from a rechargeable battery comprises placing an active material of a rechargeable battery in a cathode chamber comprising a cathode of an electrochemical cell comprising the cathode chamber, an anode chamber comprising an anode, and a membrane separating the cathode chamber from the anode chamber, contacting the active material in the cathode chamber with an electrolyte comprising an acid, ferric ions, and ferrous ions, and dissolving at least one of lithium and cobalt from the active material into the electrolyte. Related apparatuses for recovering metals from active materials of rechargeable batteries are also disclosed.

A method of recovering active materials from a rechargeable battery comprises placing an active material of a rechargeable battery in a cathode chamber comprising a cathode of an electrochemical cell comprising the cathode chamber, an anode chamber comprising an anode, and a membrane separating the cathode chamber from the anode chamber, contacting the active material in the cathode chamber with an electrolyte comprising an acid, ferric ions, and ferrous ions, and dissolving at least one of lithium and cobalt from the active material into the electrolyte. Related apparatuses for recovering metals from active materials of rechargeable batteries are also disclosed.

The present invention is a CO.sub.2 based hydrometallurgical multistage reaction and separation system comprising: a pre-washing device configured to fully mix the feedstock, such as industrial solid waste, mineral and mine tailings with auxiliary reagents and water at specific ratio, a reactor configured to treat the washed slurry with CO.sub.2 bubbling and discharge the treated slurry to the next stage, multistage separators configured to separate solid particles from treated slurry and recycle the unreacted solids back into the pre-washing device, a by-product preparation device configured to generate calcium and magnesium based products from filtrate containing target elements, a water recirculating device configured to recycle the remaining liquor back to the system. The present invention ensures the whole system is able to continuously and consistently react at maximum capacity through continuous slurry feeding and CO.sub.2 bubbling into the reactors which also enables multistage circulating reaction.

The present invention is a CO.sub.2 based hydrometallurgical multistage reaction and separation system comprising: a pre-washing device configured to fully mix the feedstock, such as industrial solid waste, mineral and mine tailings with auxiliary reagents and water at specific ratio, a reactor configured to treat the washed slurry with CO.sub.2 bubbling and discharge the treated slurry to the next stage, multistage separators configured to separate solid particles from treated slurry and recycle the unreacted solids back into the pre-washing device, a by-product preparation device configured to generate calcium and magnesium based products from filtrate containing target elements, a water recirculating device configured to recycle the remaining liquor back to the system. The present invention ensures the whole system is able to continuously and consistently react at maximum capacity through continuous slurry feeding and CO.sub.2 bubbling into the reactors which also enables multistage circulating reaction.

Disclosed is a thermal reduction apparatus. The thermal reduction apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment includes: a preheating unit which preheats a to-be-reduced material and loads the to-be-reduced material into a reducing unit; the reducing unit which is connected to the preheating unit and in which a thermal reduction reaction of the to-be-reduced material occurs; a cooling unit which is connected to the reducing unit and from which the to-be-reduced material flowing into the cooling unit is unloaded to the outside; a gate device which is installed between the preheating unit and the reducing unit; a gate device which is installed between the reducing unit and the cooling unit; a condensing device which is connected to the reducing unit and condenses a metal vapor; a first blocking unit which is installed in the reducing unit; and a second blocking unit which is installed in the reducing unit so as to be spaced apart from the first blocking unit.

Disclosed is a thermal reduction apparatus. The thermal reduction apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment includes: a preheating unit which preheats a to-be-reduced material and loads the to-be-reduced material into a reducing unit; the reducing unit which is connected to the preheating unit and in which a thermal reduction reaction of the to-be-reduced material occurs; a cooling unit which is connected to the reducing unit and from which the to-be-reduced material flowing into the cooling unit is unloaded to the outside; a gate device which is installed between the preheating unit and the reducing unit; a gate device which is installed between the reducing unit and the cooling unit; a condensing device which is connected to the reducing unit and condenses a metal vapor; a first blocking unit which is installed in the reducing unit; and a second blocking unit which is installed in the reducing unit so as to be spaced apart from the first blocking unit.

A method for extracting a metal of interest from a mineral substrate comprising: 1) providing a mineral substrate containing a metal of interest, 2) contacting the mineral substrate with a leaching medium comprising a pH reducing microorganism and/or an acid or proton produced by a pH reducing microorganism, and 3) recovering a leachate comprising the metal of interest.