Processing of cobaltous sulphate/dithionate liquors derived from cobalt resource

A process of water removal and/or recycling from sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate containing liquor derived from processing a cobalt resource, comprising steps of:

• a. processing material originating from components of lithium ion batteries to derive a cobalt resource;
• b. mixing sulphur dioxide and sulphuric acid with the cobalt resource to derive a liquor containing cobalt sulphate and cobalt dithionate;
• c. precipitation of cobalt as cobaltous carbonate or cobaltous hydroxide in whole or in part followed by its removal in whole or in part from the liquor by filtration;
• d. crystallization of sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate to separate the majority of sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate from the liquor;
• e. heating of the sodium sulphate and sodium dithionate crystals to form anhydrous sodium sulphate, sulphur dioxide and water;
• and
• f. separation of anhydrous sodium sulphate from the sulfur dioxide and water.