Alkali metals and sulfur may be recovered from alkali monosulfide and polysulfides in an electrolytic process that utilizes an electrolytic cell having an alkali ion conductive membrane. An anolyte includes an alkali monosulfide, an alkali polysulfide, or a mixture thereof and a solvent that dissolves elemental sulfur. A catholyte includes molten alkali metal. Applying an electric current oxidizes sulfide and polysulfide in the anolyte compartment, causes alkali metal ions to pass through the alkali ion conductive membrane to the catholyte compartment, and reduces the alkali metal ions in the catholyte compartment. Liquid sulfur separates from the anolyte and may be recovered. The electrolytic cell is operated at a temperature where the formed alkali metal and sulfur are molten.

Alkali metals and sulfur may be recovered from alkali monosulfide and polysulfides in an electrolytic process that utilizes an electrolytic cell having an alkali ion conductive membrane. An anolyte includes an alkali monosulfide, an alkali polysulfide, or a mixture thereof and a solvent that dissolves elemental sulfur. A catholyte includes molten alkali metal. Applying an electric current oxidizes sulfide and polysulfide in the anolyte compartment, causes alkali metal ions to pass through the alkali ion conductive membrane to the catholyte compartment, and reduces the alkali metal ions in the catholyte compartment. Liquid sulfur separates from the anolyte and may be recovered. The electrolytic cell is operated at a temperature where the formed alkali metal and sulfur are molten.

The present invention relates to a method of simultaneously recovering cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) from lithium-based BATTERY, and more particularly, to a method that is capable of simultaneously recovering cobalt and manganese from lithium-based BATTERY, i.e., recycled resources that contain large amounts of cobalt and manganese, with high purities using multistage leaching and electrowinning methods. According to the method of the present invention, cobalt and manganese can be simultaneously recovered from lithium-based BATTERY as recycled resources, and a recovery method that is cost-effective compared to conventional methods can be provided.

The present technology provides a process comprising: contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with an effective amount of sodium metal and an effective amount of exogenous capping agent at a temperature of 250-500 C., to produce a mixture of sodium salts and a converted feedstock, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises hydrocarbons with a sulfur content of at least 0.5 wt % and an asphaltene content of at least 1 wt %; the sulfur content comprises asphaltenic sulfur and non-asphaltenic sulfur; the converted feedstock comprises hydrocarbon oil with a sulfur content less than that in the hydrocarbon feedstock and an asphaltene content less than that in the hydrocarbon feedstock; and the proportion of asphaltenic sulfur to non-asphaltenic sulfur in the converted feedstock is lower than in the hydrocarbon feedstock.

The present technology provides a process comprising: contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with an effective amount of sodium metal and an effective amount of exogenous capping agent at a temperature of 250-500 C., to produce a mixture of sodium salts and a converted feedstock, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises hydrocarbons with a sulfur content of at least 0.5 wt % and an asphaltene content of at least 1 wt %; the sulfur content comprises asphaltenic sulfur and non-asphaltenic sulfur; the converted feedstock comprises hydrocarbon oil with a sulfur content less than that in the hydrocarbon feedstock and an asphaltene content less than that in the hydrocarbon feedstock; and the proportion of asphaltenic sulfur to non-asphaltenic sulfur in the converted feedstock is lower than in the hydrocarbon feedstock.

In a method of producing metal borohydride, M(BH.sub.4).sub.n, from metal metaborate, M(BO.sub.2).sub.n, in which M is a metal, such as a metallic metal, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal or a chemical compound behaving as a metal, and n is a valence value of the metal, metal borohydride is formed through a reaction of metal hydride, MH.sub.n, with trimethyl borate, B(OMe).sub.3, and metal trimethyl borate is formed through a reaction of boric acid, H.sub.3BO.sub.3, with methanol, MeOH, under removal of water, H.sub.2O. An electrochemical cell is used for the conversion of metal metaborate and water, H.sub.2O, to boric acid, in the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell has an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell separated by a cation exchange membrane, and a solvent and water is provided to both the anodic half-cell and the cathodic half-cell. Metal metaborate is provided to the anodic half-cell, where acid ions, H.sup.+, and electrons, e.sup., are generated at the anode from electrolysis of water, and H reacts with metal metaborate and water. The cation exchange membrane passes metal ions, M.sup.n+, from the anodic half-cell to the cathodic half-cell, and metal hydroxide, M(OH).sub.n, is formed in the cathodic half-cell.

In a method of producing metal borohydride, M(BH.sub.4).sub.n, from metal metaborate, M(BO.sub.2).sub.n, in which M is a metal, such as a metallic metal, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal or a chemical compound behaving as a metal, and n is a valence value of the metal, metal borohydride is formed through a reaction of metal hydride, MH.sub.n, with trimethyl borate, B(OMe).sub.3, and metal trimethyl borate is formed through a reaction of boric acid, H.sub.3BO.sub.3, with methanol, MeOH, under removal of water, H.sub.2O. An electrochemical cell is used for the conversion of metal metaborate and water, H.sub.2O, to boric acid, in the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell has an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell separated by a cation exchange membrane, and a solvent and water is provided to both the anodic half-cell and the cathodic half-cell. Metal metaborate is provided to the anodic half-cell, where acid ions, H.sup.+, and electrons, e.sup., are generated at the anode from electrolysis of water, and H reacts with metal metaborate and water. The cation exchange membrane passes metal ions, M.sup.n+, from the anodic half-cell to the cathodic half-cell, and metal hydroxide, M(OH).sub.n, is formed in the cathodic half-cell.

Systems and methods for removing lithium from a lithium-containing solution producing a lithium-enriched stream. The system includes a first electrochemical membrane reactor including one or more working electrodes, one or more counter electrodes, one or more ion exchange membranes, one or more optional bipolar membranes, and a power source configured to apply a voltage to the first electrochemical membrane reactor. A second electrochemical membrane reactor is configured to remove lithium from the lithium enriched stream. The first electrochemical membrane reactor may be coupled to the second electrochemical membrane reactor. The second electrochemical membrane reactor includes one or more working electrodes, one or more counter electrodes, one or more ion exchange membranes, and a power source configured to apply a voltage to the second electrochemical membrane reactor.

Systems and methods for removing lithium from a lithium-containing solution producing a lithium-enriched stream. The system includes a first electrochemical membrane reactor including one or more working electrodes, one or more counter electrodes, one or more ion exchange membranes, one or more optional bipolar membranes, and a power source configured to apply a voltage to the first electrochemical membrane reactor. A second electrochemical membrane reactor is configured to remove lithium from the lithium enriched stream. The first electrochemical membrane reactor may be coupled to the second electrochemical membrane reactor. The second electrochemical membrane reactor includes one or more working electrodes, one or more counter electrodes, one or more ion exchange membranes, and a power source configured to apply a voltage to the second electrochemical membrane reactor.

Methods of performing electrolytic reactions in scaled electrolytic cells, methods of passivating electrolytic cell components, and associated systems and electrolytic cells are generally described. Some methods comprise performing electrolytic reactions in sealed electrolytic cells in a manner that results in the passivation of one or more electrolytic cell components.