Abstract:
Electro-winning of active metal (e.g., lithium) ions from a variety of sources including industrial waste, and recycled lithium and lithium-ion batteries is accomplished with an electrolyzer having a protected cathode that is stable against aggressive solvents, including water, aqueous electrolytes, acid, base, and a broad range of protic and aprotic solvents. The electrolyzer has a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal cathode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the cathode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or anode material in conjunction with the cathode. The electrolyzer can be configured and operated to claim or reclaim lithium or other active metals from such sources.
Abstract:
Alkali metals and sulfur may be recovered from alkali polysulfides in an electrolytic process that utilizes an electrolytic cell having an alkali ion conductive membrane. An anolyte solution includes an alkali polysulfide and a solvent that dissolves elemental sulfur. A catholyte solution includes alkali metal ions and a catholyte solvent. Applying an electric current oxidizes sulfur in the anolyte compartment, causes alkali metal ions to pass through the alkali ion conductive membrane to the catholyte compartment, and reduces the alkali metal ions in the catholyte compartment. Sulfur is recovered by removing and cooling a portion of the anolyte solution to precipitate solid phase sulfur. Operating the cell at low temperature causes elemental alkali metal to plate onto the cathode. The cathode may be removed to recover the alkali metal in batch mode or configured as a flexible band to continuously loop outside the catholyte compartment to remove the alkali metal.
Abstract:
A low temperature electrolysis process that can be used for producing an alkali metal from an alkali metal halide is provided, which comprises electrolyzing an electrolyte composition comprising at least one alkali metal halide and a co-electrolyte comprising (a) a halide or halides of Group IIIA, Group IB, or Group VIII metals and (b) a halide-donating compound.
Abstract:
In accordance with the invention an alkali metal is reacted with an ionizable hydrogen compound selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, water or mixtures thereof to produce hydrogen and an alkali metal chloride or alkali metal hydroxide, depending upon whether hydrochloric acid or water is used to react with the alkali metal. The alkali metal chloride produced directly as a by-product of the hydrogen production step, or subsequently from the alkali metal hydroxide, is heated in the presence of aluminum to produce the alkali metal for reuse in the process and aluminum chloride. The aluminum chloride is hydrolyzed to aluminum hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. The hydrochloric acid can be recycled to produce hydrogen by reaction directly with the alkali metal or can be used to convert the alkali metal hydroxide formed during the hydrogen production step to the alkali metal chloride which can be recycled back into the process. The aluminum hydroxide thus formed can be electrolyzed to aluminum metal and water to provide a method of recovering aluminum metal from aluminum scrap which previously has not be readily recyclable.
Abstract:
Aluminum chloride can be used as an electrolyte component in a lithium-sulfur dioxide electrochemical cell to improve the cell's discharge capacity and also its electrochemical reversibility.
Abstract:
Electrodepositing alkali metals from an electrolyte system comprising a mixture of sulfur dioxide, an organic solvent and an electrolyte salt substantially soluble in said sulfur dioxide and the organic solvent in admixture.
Abstract:
A relithiated Li intercalation material for producing Li metal or an alloy thereof or for pre-lithiating an electrode material as well as an anode and an electrolysis cell comprising same are provided. A method of producing Li metal or an alloy thereof or for pre-lithiating an electrode material is also provided. This method comprises carrying out a Li production electrolysis reaction in the electrolysis cell, wherein the electrolysis cell comprises the relithiated Li intercalation material as an anode, a current collector as a cathode, and an electrolyte comprising a lithium salt.