The invention relates to a process for producing metal carbonyls, wherein a reaction with a reaction mixture containing the following components is conducted in a reactor: (a) at least one metal carboxylate of formula (MeR.sub.x).sub.w, wherein Me is a transition metal, R is a monocarboxylate having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, x=1, 2, 3, or 4, and w=1, 2, or 3, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) an aliphatic alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atoms—preferably, butanol—and (d) a solvent,
wherein the average dwell time in the reactor is less than 60 minutes.

The invention relates to a process for producing metal carbonyls, wherein a reaction with a reaction mixture containing the following components is conducted in a reactor: (a) at least one metal carboxylate of formula (MeR.sub.x).sub.w, wherein Me is a transition metal, R is a monocarboxylate having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, x=1, 2, 3, or 4, and w=1, 2, or 3, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) an aliphatic alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atoms—preferably, butanol—and (d) a solvent,
wherein the average dwell time in the reactor is less than 60 minutes.

A method for preparing a transition-metal adamantane carboxylate salt is presented. The method includes mixing a transition-metal hydroxide and a diamondoid compound having at least one carboxylic acid moiety to form a reactant mixture, where M is a transition metal. Further, the method includes hydrothermally treating the reactant mixture at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form the transition-metal adamantane carboxylate salt.

The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of transition metals from battery materials comprising (0.1) providing a battery material which comprises oxidic nickel and/or cobalt compounds, (1.1) heating the battery material above 350° C. to yield a reduced material which contains nickel and/or cobalt in elemental form, (2.1) carbonylating the reduced material with carbon monoxide optionally in the presence of a reactive gas to yield a solid carbonylation residue and a volatile carbonyl which comprises nickel and/or cobalt carbonyl containing compounds, and (3.1) separating the volatile carbonyl from the solid carbonylation residue by evaporation.

The invention relates to a process for producing metal carbonyls, wherein a reaction with a reaction mixture containing the following components is conducted in a reactor: (a) at least one metal carboxylate of formula (MeR.sub.x).sub.w, wherein Me is a transition metal, R is a monocarboxylate having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, x=1, 2, 3, or 4, and w=1, 2, or 3, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) an aliphatic alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atomspreferably, butanoland (d) a solvent,
wherein the average dwell time in the reactor is less than 60 minutes.

The invention relates to a process for producing metal carbonyls, wherein a reaction with a reaction mixture containing the following components is conducted in a reactor: (a) at least one metal carboxylate of formula (MeR.sub.x).sub.w, wherein Me is a transition metal, R is a monocarboxylate having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, x=1, 2, 3, or 4, and w=1, 2, or 3, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) an aliphatic alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atomspreferably, butanoland (d) a solvent,
wherein the average dwell time in the reactor is less than 60 minutes.

A method for preparing a transition-metal adamantane carboxylate salt is presented. The method includes mixing a transition-metal hydroxide and a diamondoid compound having at least one carboxylic acid moiety to form a reactant mixture, where M is a transition metal. Further, the method includes hydrothermally treating the reactant mixture at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form the transition-metal adamantane carboxylate salt.

Methods and reactor systems are provided for extracting metals, such as nickel, cobalt, and iron, from reduced, activated metal compounds (feed materials). Feed materials may be derived from mixed hydroxide precipitate. Feed materials and carbon monoxide gas are delivered into an extraction reactor of a reactor system, such as a shell tube heat exchanger. A flow path therein directs the feed material downward and the carbon monoxide gas upward, enabling contact therebetween, forming at least one metal carbonyl gas and a solid residue therein. The flow path further directs the upward flow of metal carbonyl gases, and the downward flow of the residue. Methods and reactor systems may further purge the residue: using nitric oxide to convert any remaining dicobalt octacarbonyl therein to cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl gas; using an inert gas to removing any cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl therein; and using an inert gas-oxygen mixture, to form a passivated residue.

Methods and reactor systems are provided for extracting metals, such as nickel, cobalt, and iron, from reduced, activated metal compounds (feed materials). Feed materials may be derived from mixed hydroxide precipitate. Feed materials and carbon monoxide gas are delivered into an extraction reactor of a reactor system, such as a shell tube heat exchanger. A flow path therein directs the feed material downward and the carbon monoxide gas upward, enabling contact therebetween, forming at least one metal carbonyl gas and a solid residue therein. The flow path further directs the upward flow of metal carbonyl gases, and the downward flow of the residue. Methods and reactor systems may further purge the residue: using nitric oxide to convert any remaining dicobalt octacarbonyl therein to cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl gas; using an inert gas to removing any cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl therein; and using an inert gas-oxygen mixture, to form a passivated residue.