This lithium-isotope enrichment device comprises a treatment tank which is divided into a supply tank and a recovery tank by means of an electrolyte membrane having lithium ion conductivity, and recovers, into the recovery tank, an aqueous solution ES for the recovery of .sup.6Li of which the isotope ratio of .sup.6Li is high from a Li-containing aqueous solution FS stored in the supply tank. While a power supply, which is connected between a second electrode of a porous structure provided on a recovery tank-side surface of the electrolyte membrane and a third electrode provided to be spaced apart from the electrolyte membrane in the recovery tank, applies a voltage V1 with the second electrode being made to be positive, the lithium-isotope enrichment device connects a first electrode provided in the supply tank to the second electrode.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

Provided is a method for producing a reduced form of a metal oxide, the method being capable of preventing the production of carbon dioxide. A method for producing a reduced form of a metal oxide including irradiating a metal oxide and a high-melting-point material that is not in contact with the metal oxide with electromagnetic waves that are at least one of microwaves and millimeter waves to reduce at least a portion of the metal oxide, wherein a partition member is placed between the metal oxide and the high-melting-point material, the high-melting-point material has a melting point higher than the melting point of the metal oxide, and the high-melting-point material includes: an absorbent material that absorbs the electromagnetic waves in a temperature range that is at least partially lower than a temperature range in which the metal oxide absorbs the electromagnetic waves, and an insulation material that has a lower degree of absorption of the electromagnetic waves than the metal oxide.

Provided is a method for producing a reduced form of a metal oxide, the method being capable of preventing the production of carbon dioxide. A method for producing a reduced form of a metal oxide including irradiating a metal oxide and a high-melting-point material that is not in contact with the metal oxide with electromagnetic waves that are at least one of microwaves and millimeter waves to reduce at least a portion of the metal oxide, wherein a partition member is placed between the metal oxide and the high-melting-point material, the high-melting-point material has a melting point higher than the melting point of the metal oxide, and the high-melting-point material includes: an absorbent material that absorbs the electromagnetic waves in a temperature range that is at least partially lower than a temperature range in which the metal oxide absorbs the electromagnetic waves, and an insulation material that has a lower degree of absorption of the electromagnetic waves than the metal oxide.

A technique for processing the black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes is described. The black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes are irradiated by high frequency electromagnetic fields. Under the action of mechanical oscillation and temperature rising, the black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes decompose and recombine. The water-soluble Li-based materials are separated from the metal oxide solids which are insoluble by water washing, and finally the lithium-ion solution and metal oxide solids are obtained. The method uses high frequency electromagnetic fields to irradiate the black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes and wash the product by water, which has the advantages of green, high efficiency, rapid, etc., and is an important technique of processing spent Li-ion batteries.

A technique for processing the black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes is described. The black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes are irradiated by high frequency electromagnetic fields. Under the action of mechanical oscillation and temperature rising, the black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes decompose and recombine. The water-soluble Li-based materials are separated from the metal oxide solids which are insoluble by water washing, and finally the lithium-ion solution and metal oxide solids are obtained. The method uses high frequency electromagnetic fields to irradiate the black powder materials of spent Li-ion battery cathodes and wash the product by water, which has the advantages of green, high efficiency, rapid, etc., and is an important technique of processing spent Li-ion batteries.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.