Proposed is a method of extracting a metal from a salt solution derived from a spent battery, the method including preparing a salt solution derived from a spent battery containing metal ions, preparing a metal extractant mixture including a metal extractant and a metal extractant activator, bringing the metal extractant mixture into contact with the salt solution to produce a complex compound of the metal extractant mixture and the metal, and a first filtrate. The method further comprises recovering the complex compound and the first filtrate and bringing an acid into contact with the complex compound to produce a metal salt, and a second filtrate, recovering the metal salt and the second filtrate, and recovering each of the activator and acid from the first filtrate through electrodialysis.

Proposed is a method of extracting a metal from a salt solution derived from a spent battery, the method including preparing a salt solution derived from a spent battery containing metal ions, preparing a metal extractant mixture including a metal extractant and a metal extractant activator, bringing the metal extractant mixture into contact with the salt solution to produce a complex compound of the metal extractant mixture and the metal, and a first filtrate. The method further comprises recovering the complex compound and the first filtrate and bringing an acid into contact with the complex compound to produce a metal salt, and a second filtrate, recovering the metal salt and the second filtrate, and recovering each of the activator and acid from the first filtrate through electrodialysis.

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 process is provided for recovering a refractory metal. A comminuted precursor material includes the refractory metal to be recovered in oxidically bound form. A reactant of loose solids includes a slag former having a higher O.sub.2 affinity than the refractory metal. A heat-resistant reaction vessel is filled with a charge of a mixture of the precursor material and the reactant. The process triggers an exothermic redox reaction of the charge, while an inertia force acts on the reaction vessel. The charge is melted, whereby the molten refractory metal and the slag are separated owing to the inertia force that acts on the vessel during the exothermic redox reaction. The reaction vessel with at least the reaction products is cooled. Reaction products are removed from the reaction vessel, and the refractory metal is separated from the slag.

A process is provided for recovering a refractory metal. A comminuted precursor material includes the refractory metal to be recovered in oxidically bound form. A reactant of loose solids includes a slag former having a higher O.sub.2 affinity than the refractory metal. A heat-resistant reaction vessel is filled with a charge of a mixture of the precursor material and the reactant. The process triggers an exothermic redox reaction of the charge, while an inertia force acts on the reaction vessel. The charge is melted, whereby the molten refractory metal and the slag are separated owing to the inertia force that acts on the vessel during the exothermic redox reaction. The reaction vessel with at least the reaction products is cooled. Reaction products are removed from the reaction vessel, and the refractory metal is separated from the slag.

Systems and methods for recovery of molten metal are generally described. Certain systems comprise a reactor (e.g., a reduction cell such as an electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte) comprising molten metal within a container; and a collection vessel at least partially contained within the container of the reactor, the collection vessel comprising an opening fluidically connected to the container of the reactor. Some systems comprise a reactor; and a collection vessel comprising a first opening fluidically connected to the reactor and a second opening fluidically connected to a source of gas (e.g., inert gas) and to a source of negative pressure.

The present disclosure is directed at apparatus and methods for rare earth element recovery and purification. The apparatus and methods are preferably configured to apply to column-based chromatographic separation and purification of rare earth element(s) and recovery of rare earth element(s) from a mobile phase containing rare-earth element chelating agent(s).

The present disclosure is directed at apparatus and methods for rare earth element recovery and purification. The apparatus and methods are preferably configured to apply to column-based chromatographic separation and purification of rare earth element(s) and recovery of rare earth element(s) from a mobile phase containing rare-earth element chelating agent(s).

Provided is a method for producing a reduced form of a metal oxide, the method being capable of preventing the production of carbon dioxide. The method for producing a reduced form of a metal oxide may use a partition member and a high-melting-point material that comprises an absorbent material and an insulation material.