Methods for the separation and/or purification of metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023175097-A1
Application number	US-202117995656-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2021
Priority date	Jul 15, 2020
Publication date	Jun 8, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for separating at least two metals from each other in a metal refining process, the method comprising: injecting a feed solution comprising the metals into a column or flow pipe comprising a monolithic solid body having a plurality of channels; and flowing the feed solution through the plurality of channels in the monolithic solid body to separate the metals.

First claim

1 . A method for separating at least two metals from each other in a metal refining process, the method comprising:
injecting a feed solution comprising the metals into a column or flow pipe comprising a monolithic solid body having a plurality of channels, wherein the monolithic solid body is a single, continuous, bonded, solid body comprising the plurality of channels through which the feed solution can flow; and flowing the feed solution through the plurality of channels in the monolithic solid body to separate the metals, wherein the method is a solid phase extraction method in which at least one metal species in the feed solution is adsorbed onto a surface of the monolithic solid body within the channels in order to separate the metals as the feed solution flows through the plurality of channels in the monolithic solid body, wherein the surface of the monolithic solid body within the channels is functionalized to selectively adsorb one or more target metal containing species, and further comprising eluting the feed from the monolithic solid body in an elution cycle by flowing an eluent through the monolithic solid body, wherein the monolithic solid body is formed of an organic polymer material and the surface of the monolithic solid body within the channels is hydrophilic.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the monolithic solid body comprises one or more of: a methacrylate; a thioether functionalised methacrylate; a glycol; an acrylate; a polystyrene divinyl benzene; a cross linked co-polymer of glycol methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; a co-polymer of oligo ethylene glycol, glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol di-methacrylate; a polystyrene divinyl benzene polymer with hydrophilic oligo glycols groups covalently attached thereto.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the monolithic solid body is formed by 3D printing.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the channels in the monolithic solid body has a diameter of 1 mm or more.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metals include at least one platinum group metal.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metals include at least one battery metal selected from cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese.

7 - 9 . (canceled)

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the eluent is reduced during the elution cycle prior to elution of at least one of the metals.

11 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A metal refining process comprising the method according to claim 1 .

16 . The metal refining process according to claim 11 , wherein the metal refining process is a PGM refining process.

17 . The metal refining process according to claim 12 , wherein the metal refining process is a battery metal refining process for one or more or cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese.

18 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the monolithic solid body within the channels comprises hydroxyl groups.

23 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the monolithic body perpendicular to flow direction is at least 0.1 m, 0.2 m, 0.3 m, 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m, or more and a length of the monolithic body parallel to flow direction is at least 0.1 m, 0.2 m, 0.3 m, 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m, 5 m or more.

24 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the feed solution and/or eluent comprises an inorganic acid.

Assignees

• Johnson Matthey Plc

Inventors

• Edgar Jonathan
• Marin Florido Daniel
• Foxwell David
• O'Shaughnessy Paul Noel
• Tsoligkas Andreas

Classifications

• C22B3/26 Primary

  by liquid-liquid extraction using organic compounds · CPC title

• C22B11/046 Primary

  from manufactured products, e.g. from printed circuit boards, from photographic films, paper or baths · CPC title

• B01D15/166

  Fluid composition conditioning, e.g. gradient · CPC title

• B01D11/0223

  Moving bed of solid material (see also B01D11/0261) · CPC title

• B01J20/264

  derived from different types of monomers, e.g. linear or branched copolymers, block copolymers, graft copolymers · CPC title