A method of recovering an active metal of a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes preparing a waste cathode active material mixture obtained from a waste cathode of a lithium secondary battery, forming a preliminary precursor mixture by reacting the waste cathode active material mixture with a reactive gas in a fluidized bed reactor, and selectively recovering a lithium precursor from the preliminary precursor mixture. The fluidized bed reactor includes a reactor body and a horizontal expansion bed, and a ratio of a diameter of the horizontal expansion bed relative to a diameter of the reactor body is 3 or more to improve a recovery efficiency of a lithium secondary battery.

The present invention addresses the problem, in methods for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, of providing an oxide ore smelting method with good productivity and efficiency. The present invention is an oxide ore smelting method for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, the method comprising at least: a mixing step S1 for mixing an oxide ore with a carbonaceous reducing agent; a mixture-molding step S2 for molding the mixture obtained to obtain a mixture-molded body; and a reducing step S3 for heating the mixture-molded body obtained at a specified reducing temperature in a reducing furnace.

The present invention addresses the problem, in methods for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, of providing an oxide ore smelting method with good productivity and efficiency. The present invention is an oxide ore smelting method for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, the method comprising at least: a mixing step S1 for mixing an oxide ore with a carbonaceous reducing agent; a mixture-molding step S2 for molding the mixture obtained to obtain a mixture-molded body; and a reducing step S3 for heating the mixture-molded body obtained at a specified reducing temperature in a reducing furnace.

Proposed is a separation method of black powder of an automotive waste secondary battery. More particularly, a method of separating a black powder (Ni, Co, Mn, Li C)+metal (Cu, Al) compound extracted from an automotive waste secondary battery through magnetic separation and particle separation is proposed. The separation method of black powder of an automotive waste secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: (a) extracting black powder+metal compound from a waste secondary battery; (b) separating the black powder+metal compound into black powder and a metal compound through particle separation; and (c) separating Co and Ni, and non-extracted Mn, Li, and C by extracting Co and Ni from the black powder through gravity separation.

Provided is a smelting method for producing metal by reducing a mixture that includes an oxide ore such as nickel oxide ore, wherein it is possible to improve productivity by raising the metal recovery rate as well as to inexpensively and efficiently produce high-quality metal. The present invention is a smelting method in which: an oxide ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent are mixed; the resulting mixture is heated and subjected to a reduction treatment; and metal and slag, which are reduction products, are obtained, wherein the reduction treatment is carried out in a state in which one or more surface deposits selected from carbonaceous reducing agents, metal oxides, and oxidation inhibitors are deposited on the surface of the mixture.

Provided is a smelting method for producing metal by reducing a mixture that includes an oxide ore such as nickel oxide ore, wherein it is possible to improve productivity by raising the metal recovery rate as well as to inexpensively and efficiently produce high-quality metal. The present invention is a smelting method in which: an oxide ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent are mixed; the resulting mixture is heated and subjected to a reduction treatment; and metal and slag, which are reduction products, are obtained, wherein the reduction treatment is carried out in a state in which one or more surface deposits selected from carbonaceous reducing agents, metal oxides, and oxidation inhibitors are deposited on the surface of the mixture.

Provided is a method for concentrating a valuable metal contained in a lithium ion secondary battery, for processing a lithium ion secondary battery containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel, or a positive electrode material of the lithium ion secondary battery, to concentrate a valuable metal containing either or both of cobalt and nickel. The method includes a thermal treatment step of thermally treating the lithium ion secondary battery or the positive electrode material thereof, to form a granular aggregate containing at least one valuable metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel.

Provided is a method for concentrating a valuable metal contained in a lithium ion secondary battery, for processing a lithium ion secondary battery containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel, or a positive electrode material of the lithium ion secondary battery, to concentrate a valuable metal containing either or both of cobalt and nickel. The method includes a thermal treatment step of thermally treating the lithium ion secondary battery or the positive electrode material thereof, to form a granular aggregate containing at least one valuable metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel.

The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste. The slag composition is defined according to:
10%<MnO<40%;
(CaO+1.5*Li.sub.2O)/Al.sub.2O.sub.3>0.3;
CaO+0.8*MnO+0.8*Li.sub.2O<60%;
(CaO+2*Li.sub.2O+0.4*MnO)/SiO.sub.2≥2.0;
Li.sub.2≥1%; and,
Al.sub.2O.sub.3+SiO.sub.2+CaO+Li.sub.2O+MnO+FeO+MgO>85%.
This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.

The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste. The slag composition is defined according to:
10%<MnO<40%;
(CaO+1.5*Li.sub.2O)/Al.sub.2O.sub.3>0.3;
CaO+0.8*MnO+0.8*Li.sub.2O<60%;
(CaO+2*Li.sub.2O+0.4*MnO)/SiO.sub.2≥2.0;
Li.sub.2≥1%; and,
Al.sub.2O.sub.3+SiO.sub.2+CaO+Li.sub.2O+MnO+FeO+MgO>85%.
This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.