The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for selectively recovering target metals or minerals from a metal or mineral containing mixture/solution.

Described herein are methods for recovering lithium metal, lithium hydride, or lithium hydroxide from lithium salts by dissolving the lithium salt in ionic liquids and applying a current to the solution.

Described herein are methods for recovering lithium metal, lithium hydride, or lithium hydroxide from lithium salts by dissolving the lithium salt in ionic liquids and applying a current to the solution.

A method for recovery of rare earth elements includes forming a rare earth containing ionic solution comprising an ionic liquid and a solvent having one or more rare earth elements dissolved therein. The method also includes adding a polar protic solvent to the rare earth containing ionic solution, and applying an electrical potential across the rare earth containing ionic solution. The method further includes collecting a deposit of at least one rare earth element on at least one electrode disposed in the rare earth containing ionic solution, and recovering the deposit of at least one rare earth element from the at least one electrode. Additional methods for recovery of rare earth elements are disclosed.

A method for recovery of rare earth elements includes forming a rare earth containing ionic solution comprising an ionic liquid and a solvent having one or more rare earth elements dissolved therein. The method also includes adding a polar protic solvent to the rare earth containing ionic solution, and applying an electrical potential across the rare earth containing ionic solution. The method further includes collecting a deposit of at least one rare earth element on at least one electrode disposed in the rare earth containing ionic solution, and recovering the deposit of at least one rare earth element from the at least one electrode. Additional methods for recovery of rare earth elements are disclosed.

A method for electrometallizing one or more rare earth elements includes combining a rare earth element-containing compound comprising one or more rare earth elements with a silylamide-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising one or more silylamide compounds to form a complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising one or more silylamide-rare earth element complexes. The method also includes applying an electrical potential across electrodes of an electrochemical cell containing the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte. The electrodes are disposed in the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte. The method further includes collecting a deposit of at least one rare earth element on at least one electrode. Also disclosed is a system for electrometallizing one or more rare earth elements.

A method for electrometallizing one or more rare earth elements includes combining a rare earth element-containing compound comprising one or more rare earth elements with a silylamide-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising one or more silylamide compounds to form a complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising one or more silylamide-rare earth element complexes. The method also includes applying an electrical potential across electrodes of an electrochemical cell containing the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte. The electrodes are disposed in the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte. The method further includes collecting a deposit of at least one rare earth element on at least one electrode. Also disclosed is a system for electrometallizing one or more rare earth elements.

Described herein are methods for recovering lithium metal, lithium hydride, or lithium hydroxide from lithium salts by dissolving the lithium salt in ionic liquids and applying a current to the solution.

Described herein are methods for recovering lithium metal, lithium hydride, or lithium hydroxide from lithium salts by dissolving the lithium salt in ionic liquids and applying a current to the solution.

A one-step method for electrokinetic uranium extraction and separation from sandstone-type uranium deposit is provided, including: using an activating leaching agent to adjust pH of activation environment as pH3, converting uranium elements in sandstone-type uranium deposit into positively charged uranyl and its complexes; applying direct current (DC) electric field with voltage gradient of 0.1 V/cm to 2 V/cm between cathode and anode, and allowing the uranium elements to move toward a cathode chamber under the action of the electric field and to undergo selective reduction by receiving electrons to produce a low-valent insoluble uranium-containing substance precipitated on the cathode surface. The present invention, through activating leaching, allows the formation of positively charged uranium ions and their complexes only, and electrophysical effects such as electromigration and electroosmosis promote directional movement of uranium toward cathode, thereby achieving uranium extraction from a sandstone-type uranium deposit.