Systems and methods are described in which spent pickle liquor from metal cleaning processes is utilized to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover valuable metals from industrial waste and other sources. The spent pickle liquor is neutralized and solvated metals in the spent pickle liquor are precipitated in this process. When the industrial waste is slag from a metal refining process a partially closed metal production process can be implemented, where spent pickle liquor from cleaning of the refined metal is used to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover a different, valuable metal from a waste slag of the process, with precipitated salts from the lixiviant regeneration being returned as a raw material in the metal refining process. As a result waste streams from these processes are dramatically reduced or eliminated.

Systems and methods are described in which spent pickle liquor from metal cleaning processes is utilized to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover valuable metals from industrial waste and other sources. The spent pickle liquor is neutralized and solvated metals in the spent pickle liquor are precipitated in this process. When the industrial waste is slag from a metal refining process a partially closed metal production process can be implemented, where spent pickle liquor from cleaning of the refined metal is used to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover a different, valuable metal from a waste slag of the process, with precipitated salts from the lixiviant regeneration being returned as a raw material in the metal refining process. As a result waste streams from these processes are dramatically reduced or eliminated.

The present disclosure discloses a method for impurity removal and treatment in the recycling process of scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries. The method includes controlling a flow rate of a leachate of scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries and a first alkaline solution at a first temperature higher than the room temperature and a constant first pH value to remove, by precipitation, iron ions, aluminum ions and at least part of copper ions to obtain a first filtrate; controlling the flow rate of the first filtrate, a complexing agent and a second alkaline solution at a second temperature higher than the room temperature and within a constant first pH range to obtain a target substance precipitate by separating a second filtrate containing lithium ions from the first filtrate; dissolving the target substance precipitate to obtain a first solution; and controlling the flow rate of the first solution and a fluorine-containing precipitant at a third temperature high than the room temperature and a constant concentration of fluorinion to remove, by precipitation, calcium ions, magnesium ions and at least part of lead ions to obtain a target solution. By the method of the present disclosure, a precipitate with a large particle size, high crystallinity and low water content can be obtained, which facilitates washing and improves the recycling rate of nickel-cobalt-manganese from the scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries.

The present disclosure discloses a method for impurity removal and treatment in the recycling process of scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries. The method includes controlling a flow rate of a leachate of scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries and a first alkaline solution at a first temperature higher than the room temperature and a constant first pH value to remove, by precipitation, iron ions, aluminum ions and at least part of copper ions to obtain a first filtrate; controlling the flow rate of the first filtrate, a complexing agent and a second alkaline solution at a second temperature higher than the room temperature and within a constant first pH range to obtain a target substance precipitate by separating a second filtrate containing lithium ions from the first filtrate; dissolving the target substance precipitate to obtain a first solution; and controlling the flow rate of the first solution and a fluorine-containing precipitant at a third temperature high than the room temperature and a constant concentration of fluorinion to remove, by precipitation, calcium ions, magnesium ions and at least part of lead ions to obtain a target solution. By the method of the present disclosure, a precipitate with a large particle size, high crystallinity and low water content can be obtained, which facilitates washing and improves the recycling rate of nickel-cobalt-manganese from the scrap positive electrode materials of lithium batteries.

The invention enables “green” and “conflict-free” acquisition of critical minerals via refinement from aqueous sources. These advantages are impactful in applications including refinement of rare materials such as certain metals, especially metals necessary for production of energy storage devices required to advance environmental goals, such as in the Paris climate agreement. The inventive concepts include economically viable approaches to refinement, as well as economically viable apparatuses. In some approaches, valuable materials such as metals are refined from salts obtained from aqueous sources. Power required to refine materials is provided by renewable energy sources. Real world implementations involve co-locating a dissociative reactor with a geothermal energy plant near an aquifer with salt(s) therein. Refined minerals are produced on site. Practice of the disclosed techniques reduce or eliminate many negative environmental impacts such as those incurred by legacy mining based techniques.

The present invention is a CO.sub.2 based hydrometallurgical multistage reaction and separation system comprising: a pre-washing device configured to fully mix the feedstock, such as industrial solid waste, mineral and mine tailings with auxiliary reagents and water at specific ratio, a reactor configured to treat the washed slurry with CO.sub.2 bubbling and discharge the treated slurry to the next stage, multistage separators configured to separate solid particles from treated slurry and recycle the unreacted solids back into the pre-washing device, a by-product preparation device configured to generate calcium and magnesium based products from filtrate containing target elements, a water recirculating device configured to recycle the remaining liquor back to the system. The present invention ensures the whole system is able to continuously and consistently react at maximum capacity through continuous slurry feeding and CO.sub.2 bubbling into the reactors which also enables multistage circulating reaction.

Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which amine-based lixiviants are utilized in substoichiometric amounts to recover alkaline earths from raw or waste materials. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process or returned to a reactor in a continuous process. Extraction of the alkaline earth from the raw material and precipitation of the extracted alkaline earth is performed in the same reactor and essentially simultaneously.

Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which amine-based lixiviants are utilized in substoichiometric amounts to recover alkaline earths from raw or waste materials. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process or returned to a reactor in a continuous process. Extraction of the alkaline earth from the raw material and precipitation of the extracted alkaline earth is performed in the same reactor and essentially simultaneously.

Systems and methods for separating Y and Sr are provided. The systems and methods provide combinations of solutions, vessels, and/or media that can provide Y solutions of industrially beneficial concentration.

Systems and methods for separating Y and Sr are provided. The systems and methods provide combinations of solutions, vessels, and/or media that can provide Y solutions of industrially beneficial concentration.