Processes are described for extracting metals from a combination derived from spent lithium-ion batteries and comprising such metals, a liquid, an acid, and other components.

This invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from sulphide ore, including steps of crushing ore in a primary crusher (14) to a size of about 40 cm and less, passing the crushed ore through one or more of the following pre-beneficiation processes such as bulk sorting (16) and screening (20) followed by coarse floatation (46/50), or gravity separation or magnetic separation. A waste stream (54) from the pre-beneficiation process/es with a particle size greater than 100 μm is stacked in a heap (26) and subjected to a heap leach. This integrated process utilises the pre-beneficiation techniques best suited to the characteristics of a particular orebody; and during the pre-beneficiation simultaneously creating a low grade stream that yields significantly higher recoveries than achievable by normal heap leaching of low grade run of mine ore.

This invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from sulphide ore, including steps of crushing ore in a primary crusher (14) to a size of about 40 cm and less, passing the crushed ore through one or more of the following pre-beneficiation processes such as bulk sorting (16) and screening (20) followed by coarse floatation (46/50), or gravity separation or magnetic separation. A waste stream (54) from the pre-beneficiation process/es with a particle size greater than 100 μm is stacked in a heap (26) and subjected to a heap leach. This integrated process utilises the pre-beneficiation techniques best suited to the characteristics of a particular orebody; and during the pre-beneficiation simultaneously creating a low grade stream that yields significantly higher recoveries than achievable by normal heap leaching of low grade run of mine ore.

The present invention relates to a process for dissolving metals in perhalide containing ionic liquids, and to the extraction of metals from mineral ores; the remediation of materials contaminated with heavy, toxic or radioactive metals; and to the removal of heavy and toxic metals from hydrocarbon streams.

The present invention relates to a process for dissolving metals in perhalide containing ionic liquids, and to the extraction of metals from mineral ores; the remediation of materials contaminated with heavy, toxic or radioactive metals; and to the removal of heavy and toxic metals from hydrocarbon streams.

Disclosed are leaching aids and methods of using the leaching aids. The leaching aids can include one or a combination of compounds. The methods of using the leaching aids can include a process of recovering metal from ore, for example, a process involving leaching, concentration and purification unit operations.

A process for multi-recycling, low-energy and high-purity extraction of lithium increases the purity and the concentration of lithium ions in produced solutions gradually through steps of adsorption/desorption ion exchange, extraction, impurity separation, agent separation and concentration, during which extractive liquids are returned, recycled and processed in previous steps for fewer dosages of chemicals and fewest discharged effluents, lower manufacturing costs than existing techniques, low specific energy consumption and consumable loss, and high-purity products with lithium ions.

A process for recovering gold from a refractory gold ore, comprising the steps of: electrolyzing a mixture consisting of the ore particles and an aqueous bromide solution in an electrolytic cell having anode and cathode, wherein bromine is produced at the anode by oxidation of the bromide, thereby dissolving gold in the aqueous phase; separating the ore particles from the aqueous phase to obtain a leach liquor; adjusting the pH of the leach liquor to the alkaline range to produce a gold-containing precipitate; collecting the gold-containing precipitate and recycling a bromide-containing barren solution for reuse as an aqueous bromide feed solution.

A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including:

(i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %;

(ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %;

(iii)roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and

(iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing the aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.

A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including:

(i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %;

(ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %;

(iii)roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and

(iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing the aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.