A process and method for producing a crystallized metal sulfate. The crystallized metal sulfate may be battery-grade. The method may comprise receiving a metal ion-containing stream and crystalizing a metal sulfate from the stream. The process may comprise receiving a stream from a metal processing plant, and crystalizing a metal sulfate from the stream. The process may be a metal electrowinning process comprising crystalizing a metal ion-containing stream to form a crystallized metal sulfate in a mother liquor. The process or method may comprise returning the mother liquor upstream or to the metal electrowinning process.

A treatment process for crystallizing a metal sulfate involving pre-treating a feedstock comprising calcium, magnesium, and/or lithium impurities, the pre-treating involving pre-leaching the feedstock in the presence of a lixiviant, selectively extracting a first portion of any of the impurities from the feedstock, and forming a leached solution comprising an uncrystallized metal sulfate and any remaining impurities; and/or refining the leached solution and removing a second portion of any of the remaining impurities; and crystallizing the uncrystallized metal sulfate from the leached solution to form a crystallized metal sulfate. So processed, the crystallized metal sulfate may be battery-grade or electroplating-grade.

A process for producing alumina and a lithium salt comprising the steps of: (a) calcining an alpha spodumene ore or concentrate to produce beta spodumene; and (b) (I) leaching beta spodumene from the calcining step (a) with an alkaline solution under pressure; or (II) sulphating beta spodumene with at least sodium sulphate and leaching said sulphated beta spodumene to produce a lithium containing solution and a zeolitic residue. The lithium containing solution is treated to provide a purified lithium salt and said zeolitic residue is treated to provide high purity alumina.

Chromatography columns for the purification of eluates from .sup.68Ge/.sup.68Ga generators comprising silica as stationary phase and purification processes that use said columns are described.

Chromatography columns for the purification of eluates from .sup.68Ge/.sup.68Ga generators comprising silica as stationary phase and purification processes that use said columns are described.

Embodiments disclosed herein include multilayer films that have at least two layers. More particularly, disclosed in embodiments herein are multilayer films that include at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer includes at least one polyethylene polymer, wherein the second layer includes at least one water-soluble polymer, wherein the second layer is insoluble in water at a temperature of less than 20° C., wherein the second layer is soluble in water at a temperature of 20° C. or greater, and wherein the first layer has one or more openings through the first layer to expose the second layer. Also disclosed herein are methods of using such multilayer films for extracting metal from metal ore.

Embodiments disclosed herein include multilayer films that have at least two layers. More particularly, disclosed in embodiments herein are multilayer films that include at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer includes at least one polyethylene polymer, wherein the second layer includes at least one water-soluble polymer, wherein the second layer is insoluble in water at a temperature of less than 20° C., wherein the second layer is soluble in water at a temperature of 20° C. or greater, and wherein the first layer has one or more openings through the first layer to expose the second layer. Also disclosed herein are methods of using such multilayer films for extracting metal from metal ore.

A new method for extracting lithium from salt lake brine, comprising the following steps: a salt lake old brine raw material, desorption liquid, low-magnesium water, and adsorption tail liquid pass through an old brine feeding pipe (2), a desorption liquid feeding pipe (4), a low-magnesium water top desorption liquid feeding pipe (3), and an adsorption tail liquid top desorption liquid feeding pipe (11), respectively, which are located above and below a rotary disc of a multi-way valve system (1); and after respectively entering corresponding adsorption columns (6) by means of a duct and channel within the multi-way valve system (1), the entire process procedure is completed from an adsorption tail liquid discharge pipe (7), a qualified desorption liquid discharge pipe (10), a lithium-containing old brine discharge pipe (8), and an adsorption tail liquid top desorption liquid discharge pipe (5); and the adsorption columns (6) are connected in series or in parallel by means of channels located in the multi-way valve system (1). The feature in which a multi-way valve device is simple and easy to operate is utilized, and in comparison with a fixed bed operating system, the utilization rate of lithium adsorbent may be increased by over 20%, the utilization efficiency of the lithium adsorbent may be increased by over 40%, and production costs may be reduced by 30-50%. Therefore, the stability of a qualified desorption liquid is improved, stable production is guaranteed, and year-round constant operation may be achieved.

A method of producing lithium phosphate from a lithium source includes the step of (a) concentrating the lithium to produce a lithium concentrate, with an ion exchange sorbent, and (b) reacting the lithium concentrate with phosphate anions to produce lithium phosphate. The lithium phosphate may then be converted to lithium hydroxide or lithium 5 carbonate by reaction with calcium hydroxide or by electrolysis.

A method of producing lithium phosphate from a lithium source includes the step of (a) concentrating the lithium to produce a lithium concentrate, with an ion exchange sorbent, and (b) reacting the lithium concentrate with phosphate anions to produce lithium phosphate. The lithium phosphate may then be converted to lithium hydroxide or lithium 5 carbonate by reaction with calcium hydroxide or by electrolysis.