Methods for extracting elements from a solution

Abstract

Provided are processes for extracting nickel and lithium from a Ni2+/Li+ solution. The process for extracting nickel and lithium includes providing a Ni2+/Li+ solution comprising an amount of lithium and an amount of nickel, treating the Ni2+/Li+ solution with an alkaline agent to adjust the pH of the Ni2+/Li+ solution to between about 1.0 to about 10.0, and treating the Ni2+/Li+ solution with a nickel selective extractant, the nickel selective extractant suitable to extract nickel from the Ni2+/Li+ solution at said pH to thereby produce a Li+ solution with less than 1000 parts per million Ni2+. Once complete, the process provides for recoverable nickel and/or lithium that may be recycled into batteries or sold for other uses.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.