Systems and methods for recovering cobalt and other valuable metals from cobalt permanent magnets of various compositions, such as samarium cobalt magnets, are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method includes converting the permanent magnet material to a higher surface area form, such as a powder. The method also includes treating the converted permanent magnet material with an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate to form a mixture (e.g., a slurry) that includes dissolved cobalt. In some embodiments, the method includes exposing the mixture to an oxidant to oxidize metallic constituents and form soluble species. The method also includes filtering the mixture to yield a filtrate and electroplating the cobalt onto a cathode from the filtrate.

Systems and methods for recovering cobalt and other valuable metals from cobalt permanent magnets of various compositions, such as samarium cobalt magnets, are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method includes converting the permanent magnet material to a higher surface area form, such as a powder. The method also includes treating the converted permanent magnet material with an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate to form a mixture (e.g., a slurry) that includes dissolved cobalt. In some embodiments, the method includes exposing the mixture to an oxidant to oxidize metallic constituents and form soluble species. The method also includes filtering the mixture to yield a filtrate and electroplating the cobalt onto a cathode from the filtrate.

The present invention provides a high-purity electrolytic copper 10 having a Cu purity excluding gas components (O, F, S, C, and Cl) is 99.9999 mass % or more, a content of S is 0.1 mass ppm or less, and an area ratio of crystals having a (101)±10° orientation is less than 40%, when crystal orientation is measured by electron backscatter diffraction in a cross section along a thickness direction.

The present invention provides a high-purity electrolytic copper 10 having a Cu purity excluding gas components (O, F, S, C, and Cl) is 99.9999 mass % or more, a content of S is 0.1 mass ppm or less, and an area ratio of crystals having a (101)±10° orientation is less than 40%, when crystal orientation is measured by electron backscatter diffraction in a cross section along a thickness direction.

A metallurgical method for operating an autogenous production circuit for producing metal(s), said method using one or more oxidizing agents generated electrolytically in a cell with one or more interfaces which allows anion exchange; said method comprising steps of: (a) leaching of mineral(s) or material(s) containing at least one metal of interest (LX) in a first cell (A) to produce a pregnant leach solution (2) and an acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8); (b) using solvent extraction process(es) or selection process(es) in a second cell (B) to concentrate said metal(s) of interest (SX) of said pregnant leach solution (2) to produce a rich electrolyte (5) and a raffinate solution (4), said raffinate solution (4) being recycled in said first cell (A); and (c) electrowinning (EW) in a third cell (C) of said rich electrolyte (5) received from said second cell (B) and said acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8) received from said first cell (A), for producing a metal cathode (6) and an acid-ferric acid solution (9), said acid-ferric acid solution (9) being recycled in said first cell (A), wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in said autogenous circuit that includes said first, second and third cells (A, B, C) with one or more anionic interfaces producing anodic and cathode reactions.

A metallurgical method for operating an autogenous production circuit for producing metal(s), said method using one or more oxidizing agents generated electrolytically in a cell with one or more interfaces which allows anion exchange; said method comprising steps of: (a) leaching of mineral(s) or material(s) containing at least one metal of interest (LX) in a first cell (A) to produce a pregnant leach solution (2) and an acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8); (b) using solvent extraction process(es) or selection process(es) in a second cell (B) to concentrate said metal(s) of interest (SX) of said pregnant leach solution (2) to produce a rich electrolyte (5) and a raffinate solution (4), said raffinate solution (4) being recycled in said first cell (A); and (c) electrowinning (EW) in a third cell (C) of said rich electrolyte (5) received from said second cell (B) and said acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8) received from said first cell (A), for producing a metal cathode (6) and an acid-ferric acid solution (9), said acid-ferric acid solution (9) being recycled in said first cell (A), wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in said autogenous circuit that includes said first, second and third cells (A, B, C) with one or more anionic interfaces producing anodic and cathode reactions.

A method for producing a lithium iron phosphate precursor by using a retired lithium iron phosphate battery as a raw material is provided, which includes steps of: soaking a battery cell in acid, performing electrolysis to reclaim copper, oxidizing ferrous iron, precipitating iron phosphate, and precipitating lithium carbonate. After precipitation is completed, performing one-step reclaim to obtain the lithium iron phosphate precursor.

A method for producing a lithium iron phosphate precursor by using a retired lithium iron phosphate battery as a raw material is provided, which includes steps of: soaking a battery cell in acid, performing electrolysis to reclaim copper, oxidizing ferrous iron, precipitating iron phosphate, and precipitating lithium carbonate. After precipitation is completed, performing one-step reclaim to obtain the lithium iron phosphate precursor.

Provided are an electrolytic copper foil, an electrode comprising the same, and a lithium ion battery comprising the same. The electrolytic copper foil has a drum side and a deposited side opposing to the drum side, wherein a nanoindentation hardness of the drum side is equal to or larger than 0.5 GPa and equal to or smaller than 3.5 GPa; and a lightness of the drum side is equal to or larger than 25 and equal to or smaller than 75.

Provided are an electrolytic copper foil, an electrode comprising the same, and a lithium ion battery comprising the same. The electrolytic copper foil has a drum side and a deposited side opposing to the drum side, wherein a nanoindentation hardness of the drum side is equal to or larger than 0.5 GPa and equal to or smaller than 3.5 GPa; and a lightness of the drum side is equal to or larger than 25 and equal to or smaller than 75.