This invention relates to a method for the production of reducible metal oxides (e.g. V.sub.2O.sub.3). The invention also relates to a method for the production of metals (e.g. vanadium) from said oxides. More specifically, the method facilitates the preparation of metal oxides that are capable of being further reduced to their respective metals with high purity.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.

This method recycles iron phosphate slag, which is produced as waste during lithium iron phosphate battery recycling processes that contain leaching or crushing for the sole extraction of lithium. This method extracts aluminum phosphate, iron phosphate, and lithium phosphate from the waste slag. The recycling process comprises these steps: (a) extraction of aluminum phosphate through addition of sodium hydroxide; (b) removal of carbon additives, graphite and other organic compounds through solvation of solely lithium, iron, and phosphate compounds through addition of sulfuric acid; (c) precipitation of iron phosphate by addition of hydrogen peroxide; (d) extraction of lithium phosphate from the mother liquor; (e) recycling of mother liquor into water and sodium sulfate. This process wastes few chemicals while still having a high reclamation efficiency in terms of purity and quantity. Furthermore, due to its relatively low costs, the profit margin of this process is very good.

This method recycles iron phosphate slag, which is produced as waste during lithium iron phosphate battery recycling processes that contain leaching or crushing for the sole extraction of lithium. This method extracts aluminum phosphate, iron phosphate, and lithium phosphate from the waste slag. The recycling process comprises these steps: (a) extraction of aluminum phosphate through addition of sodium hydroxide; (b) removal of carbon additives, graphite and other organic compounds through solvation of solely lithium, iron, and phosphate compounds through addition of sulfuric acid; (c) precipitation of iron phosphate by addition of hydrogen peroxide; (d) extraction of lithium phosphate from the mother liquor; (e) recycling of mother liquor into water and sodium sulfate. This process wastes few chemicals while still having a high reclamation efficiency in terms of purity and quantity. Furthermore, due to its relatively low costs, the profit margin of this process is very good.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.

A process and system are disclosed for producing a lithium product from a solution comprising lithium nitrate. The solution comprising lithium nitrate can be obtained by reacting a lithium-containing metal silicate with nitric acid. The process and system comprise subjecting the solution comprising lithium nitrate to a first thermal treatment procedure (in one or more heated vessels) in which water and nitric acid (when present) are removed, and whereby a resultant lithium nitrate-rich crystal slurry is heated to produce a molten liquid. The process and system also comprise passing the molten liquid to a second thermal treatment procedure (in a further-heated vessel) in which the molten liquid is heated to substantially decompose lithium nitrate to lithium oxide.