Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective removal of carbonate-forming alkaline earth elements from slag. The resulting processed slag has a reduced tendency to form carbonate salts on environmental exposure, and reduced tendency to fracture due to the formation of such salts. The lixiviant used can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process.

Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective removal of carbonate-forming alkaline earth elements from slag. The resulting processed slag has a reduced tendency to form carbonate salts on environmental exposure, and reduced tendency to fracture due to the formation of such salts. The lixiviant used can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process.

Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of alkaline earth elements. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process. Suitable lixiviant species include zwitterions, including zwitterion pairs that act as counterions to one another.

Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of alkaline earth elements. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process. Suitable lixiviant species include zwitterions, including zwitterion pairs that act as counterions to one another.

A method of removing one or more of solutes from an aqueous solution comprises introducing, into a first fractional crystallization chamber, dimethyl ether and a salt containing solution comprising one or more dissolved salts to form an aqueous solution, and precipitating a first solid from the aqueous solution. Related systems and additional methods are also described.

A method of removing one or more of solutes from an aqueous solution comprises introducing, into a first fractional crystallization chamber, dimethyl ether and a salt containing solution comprising one or more dissolved salts to form an aqueous solution, and precipitating a first solid from the aqueous solution. Related systems and additional methods are also described.

Acquisition of critical minerals via refinement from aqueous sources. Technological and geopolitical advantages inure to conflict-free refinement of rare materials including critical minerals used in production of energy storage devices, among other applications. Additionally, the applied clean tech methods advance environmental goals such as those given in the Paris Agreement. Various site-specific system configurations and corresponding site-specific methods of operation bring to bear a panoply of economically viable approaches to critical mineral refinement. In some approaches, electrical power needed to drive refinement is provided by selected site-specific renewable energy sources. Real-world implementations involve co-locating a dissociative reactor with a geothermal energy plant near a salar or other source (preferably aqueous) of critical minerals therein. Refined critical minerals are produced on site. Deployment of the various site-specific configurations of systems and practice of corresponding site-specific methods reduces or eliminates negative environmental impacts such as those incurred by legacy mining-based techniques.

A high-purity calcium and method of producing same are provided. The method includes performing first sublimation purification by introducing calcium starting material having a purity, excluding gas components, of 4N or less into a crucible of a sublimation vessel, subjecting the starting material to sublimation by heating at 750 C. to 800 C., and causing the product to deposit or evaporate onto the inside walls of the sublimation vessel; and then, once the calcium that has been subjected to first sublimation purification is recovered, performing second sublimation purification by introducing the recovered calcium again to the crucible to the sublimation vessel, heating the recovered calcium at 750 C. to 800 C., and causing the product to similarly deposit or evaporate on the inside walls of the sublimation vessel thereby recovering calcium having a purity of 4N5 or higher.

A high-purity calcium and method of producing same are provided. The method includes performing first sublimation purification by introducing calcium starting material having a purity, excluding gas components, of 4N or less into a crucible of a sublimation vessel, subjecting the starting material to sublimation by heating at 750 C. to 800 C., and causing the product to deposit or evaporate onto the inside walls of the sublimation vessel; and then, once the calcium that has been subjected to first sublimation purification is recovered, performing second sublimation purification by introducing the recovered calcium again to the crucible to the sublimation vessel, heating the recovered calcium at 750 C. to 800 C., and causing the product to similarly deposit or evaporate on the inside walls of the sublimation vessel thereby recovering calcium having a purity of 4N5 or higher.

The present invention provides an alkali metal and/or alkali earth metal extraction method that has excellent extraction efficiency and allows repeated use of an aqueous solution that extracts an alkali metal and/or alkali earth metal from a solid. The alkali metal and/or alkali earth metal extraction method is a method for extracting an alkali metal and/or alkali earth metal from a solid containing the alkali metal and/or alkali earth metal, the method including an elution step in which the solid is added to a neutral amino acid-containing aqueous solution or an amino acid-containing mixed aqueous solution produced by mixing a pH adjusting agent with an aqueous solution containing at least one of a neutral amino acid, an acidic amino acid and a basic amino acid so as to elute the alkali metal and/or alkali earth metal in the neutral amino acid-containing aqueous solution or the amino acid-containing mixed aqueous solution.