Methods for extracting lithium from spodumene
AssigneeXerion Advanced Battery Corp.
InventorsChadd Kiggins, John Cook, Mehmet Nurullah Ates, John Busbee, Brian Lee
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Abstract
Systems and methods for extracting lithium metal ions from a lithium containing ore such as spodumene or lithium salts are provided. The lithium ore or salt is suspended in a hydroxide salt or eutectic and heated to produce a molten salt suspension that is used to electroplate lithiated transition metal oxides on an electrode. Lithium metal or lithium ions can be isolated from the deposited lithiated transition metal oxides. A second metal ore may be included in the suspension and processed with the lithium ore.
Claims9
A method for extracting lithium metal ions from a lithium containing ore or from lithium salts, the method comprising:
- (a) preparing a suspension of lithium containing ore or lithium salts in a hydroxide salt or eutectic;
- (b) adding a second lithium containing ore or lithium salt to the suspension of hydroxide salt and said lithium containing ore or lithium salt;
- (c) heating the suspension to a temperature that exceeds the melting point of the hydroxide salt to produce a molten salt suspension of ore or lithium salt;
- (d) adding a source of transition metal ions;
- (e) electroplating the molten salt suspension to produce a lithiated transition metal oxide;
- and
- (f) isolating lithium metal ions from the heated suspension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.