Methods and systems for producing lithium metal through room temperature electrodeposition.

Methods and systems for scalable production of lithium metal through electrodeposition.

What is provided is a metal ion recovery device including a raw solution tank that is configured to store a metal ion containing raw solution including metal ions, a recovery liquid tank that is configured to store a metal ion recovery liquid including metal ions recovered from the metal ion containing raw solution, a cylindrical metal ion selective permeable membrane that partitions off the raw solution tank and the recovery liquid tank and selectively transmits the metal ions, an anode that is electrically connected to a surface of the selective permeable membrane on a side close to the raw solution tank, and a cathode that is electrically connected to a surface of the selective permeable membrane on a side close to the recovery liquid tank.

What is provided is a metal ion recovery device including a raw solution tank that is configured to store a metal ion containing raw solution including metal ions, a recovery liquid tank that is configured to store a metal ion recovery liquid including metal ions recovered from the metal ion containing raw solution, a cylindrical metal ion selective permeable membrane that partitions off the raw solution tank and the recovery liquid tank and selectively transmits the metal ions, an anode that is electrically connected to a surface of the selective permeable membrane on a side close to the raw solution tank, and a cathode that is electrically connected to a surface of the selective permeable membrane on a side close to the recovery liquid tank.

Process for the recovery of transition metal from cathode active materials containing nickel and lithium, wherein said process comprises the steps of (a) treating a lithium containing transition metal oxide material with a leaching agent (preferably an acid selected from sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid and citric acid), (b) adjusting the pH value to 2.5 to 8, and (c) treating the solution obtained in step (b)with metallic nickel, cobalt or manganese or a combination of at least two of the foregoing.

Process for the recovery of transition metal from cathode active materials containing nickel and lithium, wherein said process comprises the steps of (a) treating a lithium containing transition metal oxide material with a leaching agent (preferably an acid selected from sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid and citric acid), (b) adjusting the pH value to 2.5 to 8, and (c) treating the solution obtained in step (b)with metallic nickel, cobalt or manganese or a combination of at least two of the foregoing.

Systems and methods using solar evaporation to preconcentrate lithium containing brines to at or near lithium saturation, followed by a separation processes to separate lithium from impurities. A separated impurity stream is recycled to a point in the evaporation sequence where conditions are favorable for their precipitation and removal or disposed in a separate evaporation pond or reinjected underground, while a lower impurity stream is transferred to one or more of the removal location, to a subsequent pond in the sequence, or to a lithium plant or concentration facility. Further concentration of lithium by evaporation can then take place because impurities are removed thus eliminating lithium losses due to co-precipitation and achieving significantly higher concentrations of lithium.

Brick assemblies are prepared for covering the floor of an electrolysis cell. A tiling pattern is overlaid on a floor plan. Virtual tiles of the tiling pattern have a size and a shape of a template. Each brick assembly is formed to match zero or more departures from the template of a portion of the floor overlaid by each virtual tile. The brick assemblies are placed in piles and successively picked up for placement in adjacent positions on the floor of the electrolysis cell. Successive brick layers may be installed, in which tiling patterns are shifted to avoid overlap of the edges of bricks of the successive brick layers. A system comprises a working bench to prepare the brick assemblies, a vacuum brick lifter carried by a motorized structure to pick up and position the brick assemblies, and a controller to control the preparation and installation of the brick assemblies.

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of lithium carbonate from lithium chloride containing brines. The method can include a silica removal step, capturing lithium chloride, recovering lithium chloride, supplying lithium chloride to an electrochemical cell and producing lithium hydroxide, contacting the lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce lithium carbonate.

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of lithium carbonate from lithium chloride containing brines. The method can include a silica removal step, capturing lithium chloride, recovering lithium chloride, supplying lithium chloride to an electrochemical cell and producing lithium hydroxide, contacting the lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce lithium carbonate.