Methods for extracting li and ni from a solution

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021130927-A1
Application number	US-202017088808-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2020
Priority date	Nov 4, 2019
Publication date	May 6, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are processes for extracting lithium and optionally nickel from a Nickel(II)/Lithium(I) (Ni 2+ /Li + ) solution. The extraction is optionally performed in a series of steps with counterflow of aqueous and organic flows to thereby produce a lithium poor solution. The lithium poor solution may be treated so that remaining Ni in the lithium poor solution may be directly precipitated therefrom in the form of a Ni salt. Once complete, the process provides for recoverable nickel and/or lithium that may be recycled into batteries or sold for other uses.

First claim

1 . A process of extracting nickel, lithium, or both from a Nickel(II)/Lithium(I) (Ni 2+ /Li + ) solution, the process comprising:
(A) providing a Ni 2+ /Li + solution comprising a chloride ion and an amount of lithium and an amount of nickel; (B) treating the Ni 2+ /Li + solution with a pH adjusting agent to adjust the pH of the Ni 2+ /Li + solution to between about 1.0 to about 10.0, optionally about 1.0 to about 7, optionally 1.0 to about 6.0; and (C) treating the Ni 2+ /Li + solution with a lithium selective extractant, the lithium selective extractant suitable to extract lithium from the Ni 2+ /Li + solution at said pH to thereby produce a lithium poor solution with less Li + than said Ni 2+ /Li + solution.

2 . The process of claim 1 further comprising isolating a nickel salt, optionally by treating the lithium poor solution with a carbonation agent to produce the nickel salt.

3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the carbonation agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sodium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, bicarbonate, and a combination of at least two of the forgoing.

4 . The process of claim 2 further comprising filtering and washing the nickel salt.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the lithium poor solution comprises less than 1000 parts per million Li + , optionally less than 100 parts per million Li 30 , optionally less than 10 parts per million Li + .

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the pH adjusting agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and a combination of at least two of the foregoing.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the lithium selective extractant comprises a phosphinic acid, phosphonic acid, a phosphoric acid, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxamic acid, a beta-diketone, a trialkylphosphine oxide, or any combination thereof.

8 . The process of claim 7 , wherein the extractant is selected form the group consisting of LIX 54-100, LIX 55, CYANEX 936 and CYANEX 923, or any blend of two or more of any of these reagents.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the lithium selective extractant further comprises a hydrocarbon.

10 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of kerosene, paraffin, naphthene, and a combination of at least two of the forgoing.

11 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the lithium selective extractant and hydrocarbon are present at 10:90 percent by volume to 50:50 percent by volume.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (C) is performed at a pH of about 1.0 to about 6.0.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein steps (B) and (C) are repeated via alternating between the lithium selective extractant and the pH adjusting solution.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein:
the pH of the Ni 2+ /Li + solution of step (B) is from 1.0 to 6.0; the lithium poor solution of step (C) comprises less than 1000 parts per million Li + ; and the process further comprising (D) treating the lithium poor solution with a carbonate to precipitate Ni from the lithium poor solution.

15 . The process of claim 1 , wherein prior to step (A) the process further comprises delithiating said LiNiO 2 compound with hydrochloric acid or perchloric acid.

16 . A process of extracting nickel, lithium, or both from a Nickel(II)/Lithium(I) (Ni 2+ /Li + ) solution, the process comprising:
(A) providing a Ni 2+ /Li + solution comprising a chloride ion and an amount of lithium and an amount of nickel; (B) treating the Ni 2+ /Li + solution with a carbonation agent or pH adjusting agent to precipitate a nickel salt, thereby producing a nickel poor solution; (C) treating the nickel poor solution with a pH adjusting agent to adjust the pH of the nickel poor solution to between about 1.0 to about 10.0, optionally about 1.0 to about 7, optionally 1.0 to about 6.0; and (D) treating the nickel poor solution with a lithium selective extractant, the lithium selective extractant suitable to extract lithium from the nickel poor solution at said pH to thereby produce a lithium poor solution with less Li + than said contained in said nickel poor solution.

17 . The process of claim 16 wherein the carbonation agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sodium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, bicarbonate, and a combination of at least two of the forgoing; or
wherein pH adjusting agent added to said Ni 2+ /Li + solution is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide.

18 . The process of claim 16 further comprising filtering and washing the nickel salt.

19 . The process of claim 16 wherein the nickel poor solution comprises less than 1000 parts per million Ni 2+ , optionally less than 100 parts per million Ni 2+ , optionally less than 10 parts per million Ni 2+ .

20 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the lithium poor solution comprises less than 1000 parts per million Li + , optionally less than 100 parts per million Li + , optionally less than 10 parts per million Li + .

21 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the lithium poor solution comprises less than 1000 parts per million Li + , optionally less than 100 parts per million Li + , optionally less than 10 parts per million Li + .

22 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the pH adjusting agent added to the nickel poor solution is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and a combination of at least two of the foregoing.

23 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the lithium selective extractant comprises an a phosphinic acid, phosphonic acid, a phosphoric acid, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxamic acid, a beta-diketone, a trialkylphosphine oxide, or any combination thereof

24 . The process of claim 23 , wherein the extractant is selected form the group consisting of LIX 54-100, LIX 55, CYANEX 936 and CYANEX 923, or any blend of two or more of any of these reagents.

25 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the lithium selective extractant further comprises a hydrocarbon.

26 . The process of claim 25 , wherein the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of kerosene, paraffin, naphthene, and a combination of at least two of the forgoing.

27 . The process of claim 25 , wherein the lithium selective extractant and hydrocarbon are present at 10:90 percent by volume to 50:50 percent by volume.

28 . The process of claim 16 , wherein step (D) is performed at a pH of about 1.0 to about 6.0.

29 . The process of claim 16 , wherein steps (C) and (D) are repeated via alternating between adding the lithium selective extractant and the pH adjusting solution.

30 . The process of claim 16 , wherein prior to step (A) the process further comprises delithiating said LiNiO 2 compound with hydrochloric acid or perchloric acid.

Assignees

• Basf Corp

Inventors

• Bender Jack
• Mays William C
• Dinn Tinoush
• Panchula Martin L
• Von Deak Dieter G

Classifications

• C22B26/12 Primary

  Obtaining lithium · CPC title

• C22B23/0461 Primary

  by chemical methods · CPC title

• C22B7/007 Primary

  by acid leaching · CPC title

• C22B3/3842

  Phosphinic acid, e.g. H2P(O)(OH) · CPC title

• C22B3/30

  Oximes · CPC title