A method for producing a mixed metal solution containing manganese ions and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, the method including: an Al removal step of subjecting an acidic solution containing at least manganese ions and aluminum ions, and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, to removal of the aluminum ions by extracting the aluminum ions into a solvent while leaving at least a part of the manganese ions in the acidic solution in an aqueous phase, the acidic solution being obtained by subjecting battery powder of lithium ion batteries to a leaching step; and a metal extraction step of bringing an extracted residual liquid obtained in the Al removal step to an equilibrium pH of 6.5 to 7.5 using a solvent containing a carboxylic acid-based extracting agent, extracting at least one of the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and the nickel ions into the solvent, and then back-extracting the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and nickel ions.

A method for producing a mixed metal solution containing manganese ions and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, the method including: an Al removal step of subjecting an acidic solution containing at least manganese ions and aluminum ions, and at least one of cobalt ions and nickel ions, to removal of the aluminum ions by extracting the aluminum ions into a solvent while leaving at least a part of the manganese ions in the acidic solution in an aqueous phase, the acidic solution being obtained by subjecting battery powder of lithium ion batteries to a leaching step; and a metal extraction step of bringing an extracted residual liquid obtained in the Al removal step to an equilibrium pH of 6.5 to 7.5 using a solvent containing a carboxylic acid-based extracting agent, extracting at least one of the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and the nickel ions into the solvent, and then back-extracting the manganese ions and at least one of the cobalt ions and nickel ions.

Integrated recycling method and processes including recycling spent catalyst to produce one or more water-soluble metal salts and one or more water-insoluble tail byproducts, and recycling rechargeable batteries to produce one or more battery-grade metals and one or more pure metallic byproducts, wherein the water insoluble tail byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the rechargeable batteries, the impure metallic byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the spent catalyst, or both.

Integrated recycling method and processes including recycling spent catalyst to produce one or more water-soluble metal salts and one or more water-insoluble tail byproducts, and recycling rechargeable batteries to produce one or more battery-grade metals and one or more pure metallic byproducts, wherein the water insoluble tail byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the rechargeable batteries, the impure metallic byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the spent catalyst, or both.

The invention relates to a material consisting of hard fibers on which nanoparticles of metals or metal oxides, preferably period IV transition metal oxides, are deposited, using different techniques, said material being used in the degradation and removal of contaminants found in liquid matrices. The invention also relates to a method for the in situ synthesis thereof.

The invention relates to a material consisting of hard fibers on which nanoparticles of metals or metal oxides, preferably period IV transition metal oxides, are deposited, using different techniques, said material being used in the degradation and removal of contaminants found in liquid matrices. The invention also relates to a method for the in situ synthesis thereof.

Provided is a method for producing a lithium-containing solution that allows increasing a content rate of lithium in a solution after an eluting step, and suppressing an amount of an eluted solution used in a process after the eluting step, thus suppressing production cost of lithium.

A method for producing a lithium-containing solution includes an adsorption step of bringing a lithium adsorbent obtained from lithium manganese oxide in contact with a low lithium-containing solution to obtain post-adsorption lithium manganese oxide, an eluting step of bringing the post-adsorption lithium manganese oxide in contact with an acid-containing solution to obtain an eluted solution, and a manganese oxidation step of oxidating manganese to obtain a lithium-containing solution with a suppressed manganese concentration. The adsorption step, the eluting step, and the manganese oxidation step are performed in this order, and the acid-containing solution includes the eluted solution with acid added. The method allows the usage amount of the acid in the eluting step to be suppressed, the content rate of lithium in the eluted solution after the eluting step to be increased, and thus the production cost of the lithium-containing solution to be suppressed.

Disclosed is a noble metal-manganese oxide composite catalyst for a positive electrode of an aqueous rechargeable battery that can regenerate a solvent of an aqueous electrolyte. Also disclosed are a method for preparing the composite catalyst, a positive electrode for an aqueous rechargeable battery including the composite catalyst, and an aqueous rechargeable battery including the positive electrode. The composite catalyst can regenerate reaction products, including gases continuously generated from spontaneous corrosion of the electrodes or side reactions, back to water to prevent depletion of the electrolyte. Due to this ability, the composite catalyst improves the life characteristics of the battery and suppresses the occurrence of excessive overpotentials at the electrodes. Therefore, the use of the composite catalyst is effective in preventing the performance of the battery from deteriorating. In addition, the composite catalyst can prevent an increase in the internal pressure of the battery resulting from gas generation and reduce the risk of fire or explosion, contributing to a significant improvement in the safety of the battery.

Disclosed is a noble metal-manganese oxide composite catalyst for a positive electrode of an aqueous rechargeable battery that can regenerate a solvent of an aqueous electrolyte. Also disclosed are a method for preparing the composite catalyst, a positive electrode for an aqueous rechargeable battery including the composite catalyst, and an aqueous rechargeable battery including the positive electrode. The composite catalyst can regenerate reaction products, including gases continuously generated from spontaneous corrosion of the electrodes or side reactions, back to water to prevent depletion of the electrolyte. Due to this ability, the composite catalyst improves the life characteristics of the battery and suppresses the occurrence of excessive overpotentials at the electrodes. Therefore, the use of the composite catalyst is effective in preventing the performance of the battery from deteriorating. In addition, the composite catalyst can prevent an increase in the internal pressure of the battery resulting from gas generation and reduce the risk of fire or explosion, contributing to a significant improvement in the safety of the battery.

The present invention relates to nanocrystalline cellulose, an efficient way of its preparation and to uses of such nanocrystalline cellulose. The present invention also relates to porous metal oxides having a chiral nematic structure which are prepared using nanocrystalline cellulose.