Basf Corporation

Martin L Panchula

William C Mays

Benjamin Reichman

Diana F Wong

Jack Thomas Bender

Xue Wu Liu

Dieter G Von Deak

Gary A Yacobian

Tinoush Dinn

Provided are processes for extracting nickel and lithium from a Ni/Lisolution. The process for extracting nickel and lithium includes providing a Ni/Lisolution comprising an amount of lithium and an amount of nickel, treating the Ni/Lisolution with an alkaline agent to adjust the pH of the Ni/Lisolution to between about 1.0 to about 10.0, and treating the Ni/Lisolution with a nickel selective extractant, the nickel selective extractant suitable to extract nickel from the Ni/Lisolution at said pH to thereby produce a Lisolution with less than 1000 parts per million Ni. Once complete, the process provides for recoverable nickel and/or lithium that may be recycled into batteries or sold for other uses.

Methods for extracting elements from a solution

Provided are processes for the formation of electrochemically active materials such as lithiated transition metal oxides that solve prior issues with throughput and calcination. The processes include forming the materials in the presence of a processing additive that includes potassium prior to calcination that produces active materials with increased primary particle grain sizes.

Process for producing lithiated transition metal oxides

Provided are processes for the formation of electrochemically active materials such as lithiated transition metal oxides that solve prior issues with throughput and calcination. The processes include forming precursor materials into agglomerates prior to calcination. The use of the agglomerates improves gas flow into and out of the materials thereby improving calcination results, electrochemical properties of the resulting materials, and allows for use of high temperature kilns not previously suitable for such materials thereby lowering production costs.

Provided are processes for extracting lithium and optionally nickel from a Nickel(II)/Lithium(I) (Ni/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.

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Beachwood, OH, United States of America

Martin L Panchula