A method of recycling lithium-ion batteries includes steps of: roasting black mass from lithium-ion batteries to produce a reduced black mass, conducting simultaneous aqueous leaching and wet magnetic separation of the reduced black mass for (a) extracting soluble lithium species and (b) enriching metallic NiCo and subjecting the extracted soluble lithium species to electrochemical lithium ion purification. A system for recycling lithium ion batteries includes a roaster, an aqueous leaching and wet magnetic separator and an electrochemical lithium ion separator.

A method of recycling lithium-ion batteries includes steps of: roasting black mass from lithium-ion batteries to produce a reduced black mass, conducting simultaneous aqueous leaching and wet magnetic separation of the reduced black mass for (a) extracting soluble lithium species and (b) enriching metallic NiCo and subjecting the extracted soluble lithium species to electrochemical lithium ion purification. A system for recycling lithium ion batteries includes a roaster, an aqueous leaching and wet magnetic separator and an electrochemical lithium ion separator.

Systems and methods for extracting lithium metal ions from a lithium containing ore such as spodumene or lithium salts are provided. The lithium ore or salt is suspended in a hydroxide salt or eutectic and heated to produce a molten salt suspension that is used to electroplate lithiated transition metal oxides on an electrode. Lithium metal or lithium ions can be isolated from the deposited lithiated transition metal oxides. A second metal ore may be included in the suspension and processed with the lithium ore.

Provided are a basic electrocatalyst applied to a carbon dioxide reduction and ethylene production system, a basic electrocatalyst electrode and an apparatus each including the same, and a method of manufacturing the basic electrocatalyst electrode. The basic electrocatalyst electrode for for carbon dioxide reduction and ethylene production includes: catalyst particles each including copper hydroxide (Cu(OH).sub.2); and a basic compound. Since the basic electrocatalyst electrode has high carbon dioxide reduction performance and high ethylene selectivity, the basic electrocatalyst electrode may be applied to a reduction electrode of a carbon dioxide reduction and ethylene production apparatus and may exhibit high current density and high ethylene selectivity. The basic electrocatalyst electrode may be manufactured by a simple method, and may be applied to a large-area electrode.

A method for preparing battery grade and high purity grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate from high-impurity lithium sources includes steps for preparation of a refined lithium salt solution, preparation of battery grade lithium hydroxide, preparation of high purity grade lithium hydroxide, preparation of high purity grade lithium carbonate and preparation of battery grade lithium carbonate. The system to carry out the preparation includes a refined lithium salt solution preparation subsystem, a battery grade lithium hydroxide preparation subsystem, a high purity grade lithium hydroxide preparation subsystem, a high purity grade lithium carbonate preparation subsystem and a battery grade lithium carbonate preparation subsystem arranged in turn according to production sequence. A combination of physical and chemical treatment methods are used to treat the high-impurity lithium sources having variations in lithium contents, impurity categories, and impurity contents.

A method for preparing battery grade and high purity grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate from high-impurity lithium sources includes steps for preparation of a refined lithium salt solution, preparation of battery grade lithium hydroxide, preparation of high purity grade lithium hydroxide, preparation of high purity grade lithium carbonate and preparation of battery grade lithium carbonate. The system to carry out the preparation includes a refined lithium salt solution preparation subsystem, a battery grade lithium hydroxide preparation subsystem, a high purity grade lithium hydroxide preparation subsystem, a high purity grade lithium carbonate preparation subsystem and a battery grade lithium carbonate preparation subsystem arranged in turn according to production sequence. A combination of physical and chemical treatment methods are used to treat the high-impurity lithium sources having variations in lithium contents, impurity categories, and impurity contents.

A hydrogen fuel, sustainable, closed clean energy cycle based on green chemistry is presented for large scale implementation using a cost effective electrolytic cell. A chemical reaction between salinated (sea) or desalinated (fresh) water (H.sub.2O) and sodium (Na) metal produces hydrogen (H.sub.2) fuel and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct. The NaOH is reprocessed in a solar powered electrolytic Na metal production plant that can result in excess chlorine (Cl.sub.2) from sodium chloride (NaCl) in sea salt mixed with NaOH, used to effect freezing point lowering of seawater reactant for hydrogen generation at reduced temperatures. The method and molten salt electrolytic cell enable natural separation of NaCl from NaOH, thereby limiting excess Cl.sub.2 production. The recovered NaCl is used to produce concentrated brine solution from seawater for hydrogen generation in cold climates, or becomes converted to sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3) via the Solvay process for electrolytic production of Na metal without Cl.sub.2 generation.

There are provided methods for preparing lithium carbonate. For example, such methods can comprise reacting an aqueous composition comprising lithium hydroxide with CO.sub.2 by sparging the CO.sub.2 the said composition, thereby obtaining a precipitate comprising the lithium carbonate. The methods can also comprise inserting at least a portion of the precipitate into a clarifier and obtaining a supernatant comprising lithium bicarbonate and a solid comprising the lithium carbonate, separating the solid from the supernatant; and heating the supernatant at a desired temperature so as to at least partially convert the lithium bicarbonate into lithium carbonate.

There are provided methods for preparing lithium carbonate. For example, such methods can comprise reacting an aqueous composition comprising lithium hydroxide with CO.sub.2 by sparging the CO.sub.2 the said composition, thereby obtaining a precipitate comprising the lithium carbonate. The methods can also comprise inserting at least a portion of the precipitate into a clarifier and obtaining a supernatant comprising lithium bicarbonate and a solid comprising the lithium carbonate, separating the solid from the supernatant; and heating the supernatant at a desired temperature so as to at least partially convert the lithium bicarbonate into lithium carbonate.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.