A method for recovering the valuable materials from energy storage devices (e.g., spent rechargeable lithium batteries, especially those batteries using nickel-based or nickel and cobalt containing cathode materials) are described. In particular, the proposed method applies carbonyl technology, also known as vapometallurgy, to regenerate pure materials which can be reused as raw materials for making active cathode materials for new lithium batteries.

An aqueous cobalt chloride solution refinement method, in which metallic nickel is washed with an acidic liquid having a pH of not more than 2.5 before the metallic nickel is brought into contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride. Since the metallic nickel is washed with the acidic liquid having a pH of not more than 2.5, a passive film on a surface of the metallic nickel is removed and therefore, when the metallic nickel comes in contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, an impurity more noble than the metallic nickel can be precipitated by a cementation reaction. In addition, since the metallic nickel is only washed with acid to be brought into contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, impurities can be easily removed from the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride.

An aqueous cobalt chloride solution refinement method, in which metallic nickel is washed with an acidic liquid having a pH of not more than 2.5 before the metallic nickel is brought into contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride. Since the metallic nickel is washed with the acidic liquid having a pH of not more than 2.5, a passive film on a surface of the metallic nickel is removed and therefore, when the metallic nickel comes in contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, an impurity more noble than the metallic nickel can be precipitated by a cementation reaction. In addition, since the metallic nickel is only washed with acid to be brought into contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, impurities can be easily removed from the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride.

An aqueous cobalt chloride solution purification method, in which impurities can be efficiently removed from a cobalt salt solution, includes bringing metallic nickel into contact with an aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride to remove an impurity by a substitution reaction, in which the pH of the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride is adjusted to not less than 1.5 and not more than 2.5. Since the pH of the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride is adjusted to not less than 1.5 and not more than 2.5, a passive film on a surface of the metallic nickel can be effectively removed, and the metallic nickel comes in contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, so that an impurity more noble than the metallic nickel can be precipitated by the substitution reaction. The metallic nickel is only brought into contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, and the impurity can be easily removed.

An aqueous cobalt chloride solution purification method, in which impurities can be efficiently removed from a cobalt salt solution, includes bringing metallic nickel into contact with an aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride to remove an impurity by a substitution reaction, in which the pH of the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride is adjusted to not less than 1.5 and not more than 2.5. Since the pH of the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride is adjusted to not less than 1.5 and not more than 2.5, a passive film on a surface of the metallic nickel can be effectively removed, and the metallic nickel comes in contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, so that an impurity more noble than the metallic nickel can be precipitated by the substitution reaction. The metallic nickel is only brought into contact with the aqueous solution containing cobalt chloride, and the impurity can be easily removed.

The present disclosure concerns a 2-step smelting process, for recovering of Ni and Co from batteries and other sources.

The process comprises the steps of: defining an oxidizing level Ox, and a battery-bearing metallurgical charge; oxidizing smelting of the metallurgical charge by injecting an O.sub.2-bearing gas into the melt to reach the defined oxidizing level Ox; and, reducing smelting of the obtained slag using a heat source and a reducing agent.

The process is more energy-efficient than a single-step reducing smelting process and provides for a higher purity alloy and for a cleaner final slag.

The present disclosure concerns a 2-step smelting process, for recovering of Ni and Co from batteries and other sources.

The process comprises the steps of: defining an oxidizing level Ox, and a battery-bearing metallurgical charge; oxidizing smelting of the metallurgical charge by injecting an O.sub.2-bearing gas into the melt to reach the defined oxidizing level Ox; and, reducing smelting of the obtained slag using a heat source and a reducing agent.

The process is more energy-efficient than a single-step reducing smelting process and provides for a higher purity alloy and for a cleaner final slag.

A process for production of a PGM (platinum group metal)-enriched alloy containing iron and PGM(s) (platinum, palladium and/or rhodium) includes steps of: (1) providing a sulfur-free PGM collector alloy, (2) providing a copper- and sulfur-free material capable of forming a molten slag-type composition including silicon dioxide and magnesium and/or calcium oxide, (3) melting the PGM collector alloy and slag-forming material within a converter until a multi-phase system of a lower high-density molten mass of PGM collector alloy and an upper low-density molten mass of slag-type composition has formed, (4) contacting an oxidizing gas with the lower high-density molten mass of step (3) until conversion of the PGM collector alloy into a PGM-enriched alloy, (5) separating an upper molten slag formed in step (4) from the PGM-enriched alloy by difference in density, (6) allowing the separated molten masses to cool down and solidify, and (7) collecting the solidified PGM-enriched alloy.

A process for production of a PGM (platinum group metal)-enriched alloy containing iron and PGM(s) (platinum, palladium and/or rhodium) includes steps of: (1) providing a sulfur-free PGM collector alloy, (2) providing a copper- and sulfur-free material capable of forming a molten slag-type composition including silicon dioxide and magnesium and/or calcium oxide, (3) melting the PGM collector alloy and slag-forming material within a converter until a multi-phase system of a lower high-density molten mass of PGM collector alloy and an upper low-density molten mass of slag-type composition has formed, (4) contacting an oxidizing gas with the lower high-density molten mass of step (3) until conversion of the PGM collector alloy into a PGM-enriched alloy, (5) separating an upper molten slag formed in step (4) from the PGM-enriched alloy by difference in density, (6) allowing the separated molten masses to cool down and solidify, and (7) collecting the solidified PGM-enriched alloy.

A metal recovery apparatus including a leaching unit that directly leaches a metal element contained in a composition into a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent and a recovery unit that separates and recovers the metal element from the deep eutectic solvent, wherein the metal element-containing composition is solid at 25? C. and does not contain an inorganic acid, the metal element is a metal, a metal compound, or metal ions, and the deep eutectic solvent does not contain an inorganic acid.