Abstract:
Methods and systems for producing iron from an iron-containing ore are disclosed. For example, a method for producing iron comprises: providing an iron-containing ore to a dissolution subsystem comprising a first electrochemical cell and a dissolution tank; dissolving the iron-containing ore to form an acidic iron-salt solution; reducing Fe3+ ions to form Fe2+ ions and electrochemically generating protons in the first electrochemical cell; circulating solution between the dissolution tank and the first electrochemical cell; transferring formed Fe2+ ions from the dissolution subsystem to an iron-plating subsystem having a second electrochemical cell; second electrochemically reducing a first portion of the transferred formed Fe2+ ions to Fe metal at a second cathode of the second electrochemical cell; and removing the Fe metal. The methods and systems optionally include removing one or more impurities found in the feedstock.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for producing iron from an iron-containing ore and removing impurities found in the iron-containing ore are disclosed. For example, a method for producing iron comprises providing a feedstock having an iron-containing ore and one or more impurities to a dissolution subsystem comprising a first electrochemical cell; producing an iron-rich solution, in the dissolution subsystem; treating the iron-rich solution to remove at least a portion of one or more impurities by raising a pH of the iron-rich solution from an initial pH to an adjusted pH thereby precipitating at least a portion of the one or more impurities in the treated iron-rich solution; delivering the treated iron-rich solution to an iron-plating subsystem having a second electrochemical cell; second electrochemically reducing at least a first portion of the transferred formed Fe2+ ions to Fe metal; and removing the Fe metal from the second electrochemical cell thereby producing iron.
Abstract:
Devices and methods for purifying lithium from lithium salts, including those with low concentration of lithium salts, are provided. A molten composition comprising a lithium salt is electrolyzed with an anode in contact with the molten composition and a cathode separated from the molten composition by a solid electrolyte capable of conducting lithium ions.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method for the preparation of lithium carbonate from lithium chloride containing brines. The method can include a silica removal step, capturing lithium chloride, recovering lithium chloride, supplying lithium chloride to an electrochemical cell and producing lithium hydroxide, contacting the lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce lithium carbonate.
Abstract:
In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.
Abstract:
An electrochemical method and an apparatus for extracting lithium from a solution using bipolar electrodes are provided. The apparatus adopts electrodes respectively coated with a lithium-rich electroactive material and a lithium-deficient electroactive material as end plates, which are separated by a plurality of bipolar electrodes coated with a lithium-rich electroactive material and a lithium-deficient electroactive material respectively on two sides, where the side of the bipolar electrode facing the end plate of the lithium-rich electroactive material is coated with the lithium-deficient electroactive material, and the side of the bipolar electrode facing the end plate of the lithium-deficient electroactive material is coated with the lithium-rich electroactive material. The apparatus adopts a conventional voltage, requires a small total current and a simple power supply, greatly reduced the amount of busbar required, allows for easy process control, and is suitable for industrial production.
Abstract:
A Li ion recovery member and a Li recovery device may prevent occurrence of breakage of a permselective membrane and implement stable Li ion recovery for a long period of time even when a size of a Li recovery device is increased. The Li ion recovery member may include: a permselective membrane including a Li ion conductor made of an inorganic substance; electrodes; and a reticular elastic body, in which the electrodes are provided on at least one main surface side of the permselective membrane, at least one electrode of the electrodes is a porous electrode or a membrane electrode, and the porous electrode or the membrane electrode is sandwiched between the reticular elastic body and the permselective membrane. The Li recovery device may include a Li ion recovery electrolytic cell including the Li ion recovery member and configured to recover Li ions by electrodialysis.
Abstract:
A process for electrowinning a metal can include the steps of: a) conveying an anolyte material and a metal chemical feedstock material along an anolyte flow path within an anolyte chamber; b) conveying catholyte material along a catholyte flow path within a catholyte chamber that has a cathode; c) applying an activation electric potential between the anode and a cathode that is sufficient to electrolyze and liberate metal ions from the metal chemical feedstock material in the anolyte chamber, thereby causing a flux of metal ions to migrate through a porous membrane from the anolyte chamber to the catholyte chamber and a metal product to be formed in the catholyte chamber; and while applying the activation electric potential, extracting a feedstock-depleted anolyte material from the anolyte chamber; and extracting an outlet material comprising the catholyte material and the metal product from the catholyte chamber via a catholyte outlet.
Abstract:
In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an insertable electrode device (DEI) for metal electrowinning processes, said device being non-polluting since it does not generate acid mist or other gases. The principle is based on an oxidation half-cell reaction occurring inside the DEI, together with the reduction half-cell that occurs in the metal electrowinning cell using same. The DEI does not generate gases and therefore does not emit acid mist into the environment. The DEI replaces current anodes and permits oxidation reactions to occur below the energy threshold of electrolysis of water, thereby preventing the electro-generation of gaseous oxygen, which is the main cause of acid mist. The DEI comprises a peripheral frame, ion exchange membranes, a strategic electrode that is a strategic semiconductor or conductor (CSE), an inlet duct and outlet duct, a horizontal conductive rod, vertical electrical conducting bars, handles or clamps, a strategic electrolyte, a distributing rod, a discharge rod, and circulation inlet holes and circulation outlet holes.