The present disclosure relates generally to recycling lead-acid batteries, and more specifically, relates to purifying and recycling the lead content from lead-acid batteries. A method includes reacting a lead-bearing material with a first carboxylate source to generate a first lead carboxylate. The method includes reacting the first lead carboxylate with a second carboxylate source to generate a second lead carboxylate. The method further includes applying an electrical bias to an aqueous solution of the second lead carboxylate to generate metallic lead.

Lead is recycled from lead paste of lead acid batteries in a process that employs alkaline desulfurization followed by formation of plumbite that is then electrolytically converted to pure lead. Remaining insoluble lead dioxide is removed from the lead plumbite solution and reduced to produce lead oxide that can be fed back to the recovery system. Sulfate is recovered as sodium sulfate, while the so produced lead oxide can be added to lead paste for recovery.

A system and method for molten electrolysis includes a molten electrolyte reactor, a silicon refiner reactor, and an aluminum refiner reactor to accommodate the extraction of metals and oxygen from metal oxide feedstock. The reactor systems, designed to operate in the vacuum environment of the Moon, incorporate heat sources to melt the metal oxide feedstock, anodes and cathodes to support electrolysis, systems interconnecting the reactors, and systems allowing for removal of materials from the reactors.

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.

Method(s) and apparatus for direct lithium extraction from brine solutions via a combined solvent extraction and electrowinning process. This process involves solvent extraction integrated with an electrodeposition of lithium metal from nonaqueous solutions to with the added feature of solvent regeneration. The direct lithium metal harvest from brines via a compatible solvent will reduce significantly operational and capital costs related to the current molten salt electrolysis methods for lithium metal production.

An electrochemical cell for converting metal salt or metal oxide to metal comprises: a) a mixture comprising an electrolyte and metal salt or metal oxide; b) an anode submerged in the mixture; c) a cathode partially submerged in the mixture and moveable along a closed loop path; and d) a harvester disposed at an exposed portion of the cathode outside of the mixture, wherein an electrical charge supplied to the electrochemical cell reduces the metal salt or metal oxide to metal at and disposed onto the cathode, and wherein the harvester removes the metal from the exposed portion of the cathode. Methods and systems for converting metal salt or metal oxide to metal are also disclosed including continuous methods and systems.

A device and process that broadens the commercial and industrial applicability of metal extraction from ore by utilizing a novel substance as an electrolyte. The process overcomes the technical limitations of conventional electrolytic processes. A monatomic substance is used to create an electrolyte that avoids degradation, improves process kinetics, and minimizes end-product contamination. The electrolyte enables an electrochemical process at a lower operating temperature, offers a wider electrochemical potential window, and runs at higher reaction rates than either molten or aqueous processes. The device comprises a reactor, an electrochemical cell, a means for generating electromagnetic radiation, and a waveguide. The electrochemical cell is located within the reactor, and the means for generating electromagnetic radiation is coupled to the waveguide, and the waveguide is communicatively coupled to the reactor.

Disclosed herein is a halide electrowinning cell comprising a cathode (e.g. a titanium cathode) and an anode configured for immersion in an electrolyte comprising a metal halide. In use, passing an electrical current through the cell causes metallic dendrites to be electrowon at the cathode. The cell also comprises one or more wipers configured such that a relative movement of the cathode with respect to the one or more wipers causes the electrowon dendrites to be scraped off the cathode whilst immersed in the electrolyte, as well as a driver configured to continually move the cathode relative to the one or more wipers.