Provided are a method for crushing hard tungsten carbide (WC) scraps which is a pre-step of alkaline leaching and acid leaching processes for recycling of tungsten and cobalt, the method including mixing hard tungsten carbide (WC) scraps such as chips, wires, bolts, drills, etc., that are metalworking tools to be discarded after being used, with aluminum, followed by heating to a high temperature, to form an intermetallic compound, metal oxides, or mixtures thereof in a sponge form, and crushing the intermetallic compound, the metal oxides, or the mixtures thereof in a sponge form. Further, provided is a method for recovering tungsten and cobalt from hard tungsten carbide (WC) scrap powder through alkaline leaching and acid leaching methods.

The present invention relates to a process for recycling battery materials, in particular lithium ion/polymer batteries, and to the subsequent use of the useful materials recovered by way of the process according to the invention.

Methods of enhancing recovery of value sulfide and/or precious-metal minerals from an ore containing said minerals and a Mg-silicate, slime forming mineral, and/or clay, and which is subjected to a froth flotation process, by adding to one or more stage of the froth flotation process a froth phase modifier having a polymer containing one or more functional groups, and optionally a monovalent ion modifier enhancing agent, thereby enhancing recovery of a value sulfide mineral and/or a precious metal-bearing mineral.

Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.

The present invention provides a method for removing copper and aluminum from an electrode material and a process for recycling electrode material from waste lithium-ion batteries. The method for removing copper and aluminum from the electrode material comprises: subjecting the electrode material containing electrode active material, copper and aluminum to reaction with an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution has a pH value of higher than 10, and comprises base, oxidizing agent and complexing agent. The process for recycling electrode material from waste lithium-ion batteries comprises: a) harvesting an electrode material containing electrode active material, copper and aluminum from waste lithium-ion batteries; b) removing copper and aluminum from the electrode material according to the foresaid method; and c) further purifying and regenerating the electrode active material for reuse in new lithium-ion batteries. The present invention thus provides a practical and efficient method for recycling active materials from waste lithium-ion batteries.

A method for manufacturing nickel powder whereby a reduction in production efficiency due to abrasion of a flash vessel connected to a pressurized container can be suppressed when nickel powder is generated using the pressurized container and subsequently recovered. The method for manufacturing nickel powder comprises charging a pressurized container with a nickel sulfate ammine complex solution and seed crystals, adding hydrogen gas to the pressurized container, and reducing the nickel included in the nickel sulfate ammine complex solution, wherein, when a nickel powder slurry obtained in the pressurized container is extracted to a flash vessel connected to the pressurized container, the slurry is extracted to the flash vessel while the supply rate of the nickel ammine complex solution to the pressurized container and/or the extraction rate of the nickel slurry from the pressurized container is controlled so the liquid level in the pressurized container is in a fixed range.

Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce a loaded aqueous stream.

A process for recovering non-ferrous metals from a solid matrix may include: (a) leaching the solid matrix with an aqueous-based solution containing chloride ions, ammonium ions, and Cu.sup.2+ ions, having a pH of 6.5-8.5, in a presence of oxygen, at a temperature of 100 C.-160 C. and a pressure of 150 kPa-800 kPa, so as to obtain an extraction solution comprising leached metals and solid leaching residue; (b) separating the solid leaching residue from the extraction solution; and/or (c) subjecting the extraction solution to at least one cementation so as to recover the leached metals in elemental state. The pH may be greater than or equal to 6.5 and less than or equal to 8.5. Temperature may be greater than or equal to 100 C. and less than or equal to 160 C. Pressure may be greater than or equal to 150 kPa and less than or equal to 800 kPa.

Provided is a method for producing cobalt powder with high reaction efficiency by controlling the amount of added seed crystals when cobalt powder is produced from a solution containing a cobalt ammine sulfate complex. The method sequentially includes: a mixing step of adding, to the solution containing a cobalt ammine sulfate complex, cobalt powder as seed crystals in an amount of 1.5 times or more and 3.0 times or less the amount of cobalt contained in the solution and then adding a dispersant in an amount of 1.5% by weight to 3.0% by weight of the added seed crystals to form a mixture slurry; and a reduction and precipitation step of charging a reaction vessel with the mixture slurry and then blowing hydrogen gas into the mixture slurry to reduce cobalt complex ions contained in the mixture slurry to form cobalt precipitate on the surface of the seed crystals.

A process for recovering non-ferrous metals from a solid matrix may include: leaching the solid matrix with an aqueous-based solution, in a presence of oxygen, to obtain an extraction solution including leached metals and solid leaching residue; separating the solid leaching residue from the extraction solution; and subjecting the extraction solution to at least one cementation to recover the leached metals in elemental state. The leaching solution may include chloride ions. The leaching solution may further include ammonium ions. A pH of the leaching solution may be greater than or equal to 6.5 and less than or equal to 8.5. A leaching temperature may be greater than or equal to 100 C. and less than or equal to 160 C. A leaching pressure may be greater than or equal to 150 kPa and less than or equal to 800 kPa.