Metal compositions and processes for fractional crystallization of a molten crude tin mixture containing lead and silver are described. A process includes separating the molten crude tin mixture into a first silver-enriched liquid drain product at the liquid end of a crystallization step and a first tin-enriched product at the crystal end of the crystallization step whereby the first silver-enriched liquid drain product comprises on a dry weight basis 6.0-30.0% wt of lead, 70.0-91% wt of tin, 95.0-99.0% wt of lead and tin together, 0.75-5.00% wt of silver, and ≥0.24% wt of antimony. The first silver enriched liquid drain product also includes at least one of: 0.05-0.5% wt of arsenic; 0.05-0.6% wt of copper, 0.0030-0.0500% wt of nickel, at least 0.0010-0.40% wt of bismuth, at most 1.0% wt of iron, or at least 0.0005% wt of gold, the balance being impurities.

Disclosed is a process for the production of a purified soft lead product, including a first distillation step for distilling lead from a molten solder mixture to produce as overhead a first concentrated lead stream and as first bottom product a molten crude tin mixture. The process also includes a soft lead refining step for removing at least one contaminant selected from arsenic, tin and/or antimony from the first concentrated lead stream by treating the stream at a temperature of less than 600° C. with a first base and a first oxidant stronger than air, resulting in the formation of a third supernatant dross containing a metalate compound of the contaminant, followed by separating the third supernatant dross from the purified soft lead stream or product, whereby the third supernatant dross contains at most 1.0% wt of chlorine.

Disclosed is a process for the production of a purified soft lead product, including a first distillation step for distilling lead from a molten solder mixture to produce as overhead a first concentrated lead stream and as first bottom product a molten crude tin mixture. The process also includes a soft lead refining step for removing at least one contaminant selected from arsenic, tin and/or antimony from the first concentrated lead stream by treating the stream at a temperature of less than 600° C. with a first base and a first oxidant stronger than air, resulting in the formation of a third supernatant dross containing a metalate compound of the contaminant, followed by separating the third supernatant dross from the purified soft lead stream or product, whereby the third supernatant dross contains at most 1.0% wt of chlorine.

The invention relates to hydrometallurgical method for recovering metals from spent energy storage devices. The method comprises combining aqueous hydrobromic acid leach solution and an electrode material of spent energy storage devices in a reaction vessel, dissolving the metals contained in the electrode material to form soluble metal bromide salts, removing elemental bromine, if formed, from the reaction vessel, separating insoluble material, if present, from the leach solution to obtain a metal-bearing solution and isolating one or more metals from said metal-bearing solution.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system to separate salt from uranium. The system has a vessel, a heater, a pump, and a condenser. The vessel is adapted to receive a uranium that has a salt concentration. The heater heats the uranium for a period of time, causing the salt to turn into a salt vapor and the uranium to melt. The melted uranium releases the salt vapor. The pump circulates an inert gas that carries the salt vapor away from the melted uranium. The condenser is adapted to receive the salt vapor.

Apparatus and method for filtering molten metal including a container with a removable lid to keep the container sealed during operation, the container having an inlet chamber having an inlet opening receiving metal from a metal supply launder and outlet chamber with outlet opening connected to a launder segment. The container having a partition wall between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber and a ceramic foam filter mounted in the outlet chamber. The inlet chamber and outlet chamber being provided within the container and split by the partition wall. The container being connected in parallel with the metal supply launder via stubs. The launder being provided with a dam or valve device downstream the outlet of the container and another dam or valve device between the said launder stubs. Inside the container there is further arranged a second outlet chamber with a filter.

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

The present invention relates to an enhanced process for the recovery of lithium from compositions also containing aluminum. An example of such a metallurgical compositions is the metallurgical slag that is obtained when recycling lithium-ion batteries or their derived products using a pyrometallurgical smelting process. Acid leaching of such a slag, followed by neutralization to precipitate aluminum leads to poor lithium yields as lithium tends to co-precipitate with aluminum. A process is presented wherein aluminum is selectively precipitated using a source of phosphate at a controlled pH preferably between 3 and 4.

A ceramic foam filter and a manufacturing method thereof. The ceramic foam filter comprises the following materials provided in respective weight percentages: 20-50% of a silicon carbide, 20-55% of a zirconium oxide, and 10-36% of a silicon oxide, wherein all figures are based on the total weight of the ceramic foam filter. The method for manufacturing the ceramic foam filter comprises the following steps: (a) providing a slurry comprising a silicon carbide, a zirconium oxide or zirconium oxide precursor, a silicon oxide or silicon oxide precursor, a binder, an optional additive, and a fluid carrier medium; (b) applying the slurry to perform surface ornamentation of a perforated organic foam; (c) drying the perforated organic foam surface ornamented with the slurry to obtain a green body; and (d) sintering the green body in oxygen-containing air to obtain the ceramic foam filter.