Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing reduced iron and a method for manufacturing reduced iron. The method for manufacturing reduced iron includes the steps of: i) drying ores in an ore drier; ii) supplying the dried ores to at least one reduction reactor; iii) reducing the ores in the at least one reduction reactor and manufacturing reduced iron; iv) discharging exhaust gas by which the ores are reduced in the reduction reactor; v) branching the exhaust gas and providing the branched exhaust gas as ore feeding gas; and vi) exchanging heat between the exhaust gas and the ore feeding gas and transferring the sensible heat of the exhaust gas to the ore feeding gas. In the steps of supplying the dried ores to the at least one reduction reactor, the dried ores are supplied to the at least one reduction reactor by using the ore feeding gas.

In a method for recovering an active metal of a lithium secondary battery, a preliminary cathode active material mixture is prepared from a cathode of a waste lithium secondary battery, the preliminary cathode active material mixture is fluidized through oxygen-containing gas within a fluidized bed reactor to form a cathode active material mixture, reductive gas is injected into the fluidized bed reactor to form a preliminary precursor mixture from the cathode active material mixture, and a lithium precursor is recovered from the preliminary precursor mixture.

In a method for recovering an active metal of a lithium secondary battery, a preliminary cathode active material mixture is prepared from a cathode of a waste lithium secondary battery, the preliminary cathode active material mixture is fluidized through oxygen-containing gas within a fluidized bed reactor to form a cathode active material mixture, reductive gas is injected into the fluidized bed reactor to form a preliminary precursor mixture from the cathode active material mixture, and a lithium precursor is recovered from the preliminary precursor mixture.

The invention relates to abed management cycle for a fluidized bed boiler, comprising the steps of: a) providing fresh ilmenite particles as bed material to the fluidized bed boiler; b) carrying out a fluidized bed combustion process; c) removing at least one ash stream comprising ilmenite particles from the fluidized bed boiler; d) separating ilmenite particles from the at least one ash stream; e) recirculating separated ilmenite particles into the bed of the fluidized bed boiler. The invention also relates to a corresponding arrangement for carrying out fluidized bed combustion, comprising a fluidized bed boiler comprising ilmenite particles as bed material; and a system for removing ash from the fluidized bed boiler; wherein the arrangement further comprises a separator for separating ilmenite particles from the re-moved ash; and means for recirculating separated ilmenite particles into the bed of the fluidized bed boiler.

A method for concentrating and collecting lithium and lithium compounds via a fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. A hopper receives crushed and pulverized lithium ore, and a feeder tube transfers the crushed and pulverized lithium ore to a fluidized bed reactor. An air mixing chamber receives pressurized air from a pressurized gas inlet and a distributor plate is positioned between the air mixing chamber and the fluidized bed reactor to distribute air pressure across the bottom of the fluidized bed reactor. A cyclone receives a material from the fluid bed reactor and transmits the material to a flume for collection or redistribution through a series of fluid bed reactors for further refinement.

A method for concentrating and collecting lithium and lithium compounds via a fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. A hopper receives crushed and pulverized lithium ore, and a feeder tube transfers the crushed and pulverized lithium ore to a fluidized bed reactor. An air mixing chamber receives pressurized air from a pressurized gas inlet and a distributor plate is positioned between the air mixing chamber and the fluidized bed reactor to distribute air pressure across the bottom of the fluidized bed reactor. A cyclone receives a material from the fluid bed reactor and transmits the material to a flume for collection or redistribution through a series of fluid bed reactors for further refinement.

In a method for recovering active metals of a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment, a cathode active material mixture is collected from the cathode of the lithium secondary battery, the cathode active material mixture is reduced by a reducing reaction to prepare a preliminary precursor mixture, an aqueous lithium precursor solution is formed from the preliminary precursor mixture, and an aluminum-containing material is removed from the aqueous lithium precursor solution with an aluminum removing resin.

In a method for recovering active metals of a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment, a cathode active material mixture is collected from the cathode of the lithium secondary battery, the cathode active material mixture is reduced by a reducing reaction to prepare a preliminary precursor mixture, an aqueous lithium precursor solution is formed from the preliminary precursor mixture, and an aluminum-containing material is removed from the aqueous lithium precursor solution with an aluminum removing resin.

A method for preparing a pretreated product for recovering valuable metals of a lithium secondary battery includes: preparing a cathode active material mixture from a cathode of the lithium secondary battery; drying or pulverizing the cathode active material mixture; and classifying the dried or pulverized cathode active material mixture to have an average particle diameter (D50) of 400 m or less. Flowability may be increased by reducing the average particle diameter before reduction treatment.

A method for preparing a pretreated product for recovering valuable metals of a lithium secondary battery includes: preparing a cathode active material mixture from a cathode of the lithium secondary battery; drying or pulverizing the cathode active material mixture; and classifying the dried or pulverized cathode active material mixture to have an average particle diameter (D50) of 400 m or less. Flowability may be increased by reducing the average particle diameter before reduction treatment.