Methods for battery-grade aqueous solutions of nickel salts
AssigneeBluegrass Infrastructure Partners Holdings, LLC
InventorsAmir Mohammad Nazari, Eric Gratz, Michael Christopher Pelsozy
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Abstract
Methods are provided for preparing an aqueous nickel salt solution from an aqueous mixed metal salt solution comprising cobalt, manganese, and nickel salts and one or more impurity salts. The method includes precipitating a first group of impurity salts and the manganese salt to form an aqueous pre-extraction solution. The aqueous pre-extraction solution and an organic extractant solution are mixed to form an aqueous raffinate phase and a loaded organic phase, wherein the aqueous raffinate phase is the aqueous nickel salt solution.
Claims20
A method for preparing an aqueous nickel salt solution from an aqueous mixed metal salt solution comprising a cobalt salt, a manganese salt, a nickel salt and one or more impurity salts, the method comprising:
- precipitating a first group of the one or more impurity salts and the manganese salt from the aqueous mixed metal salt solution to form one or more impurity precipitates, a manganese oxide precipitate, and an aqueous pre-extraction solution;
- and
- mixing the aqueous pre-extraction solution and an organic extractant to form an aqueous raffinate phase and a loaded organic phase, wherein the aqueous raffinate phase is the aqueous nickel salt solution and the loaded organic phase comprises the cobalt salt and a second group of the one or more impurity salts.
A method for preparing an aqueous nickel salt solution from an aqueous mixed metal salt solution comprising a cobalt salt, a manganese salt, a nickel salt and one or more impurity salts, the method comprising:
- mixing a delithiated battery black mass and an acidic aqueous solution to form the aqueous mixed metal salt solution;
- mixing the aqueous mixed metal salt solution and iron powder to form a copper precipitate and a copper depleted solution;
- separating the copper precipitate and the copper depleted solution;
- mixing the copper depleted solution and a base to increase a pH and form one or more metal hydroxide precipitates and a nickel enriched solution;
- separating the one or more metal hydroxide precipitates and the nickel enriched solution;
- bubbling an oxidizing gas into the nickel enriched solution to form a manganese oxide precipitate and an aqueous pre-extraction solution;
- mixing the aqueous pre-extraction solution and an organic extractant solution to form an aqueous raffinate phase and a loaded organic phase, wherein the aqueous raffinate phase is the aqueous nickel salt solution and the loaded organic phase comprises the cobalt salt and a second group of impurity salts;
- and
- leaching residual nickel from the one or more metal hydroxide precipitates, from the manganese oxide precipitate, or both.
A method for synthesizing a cathode active material precursor, comprising:
- preparing an aqueous nickel salt solution from an aqueous mixed metal salt solution comprising a cobalt salt, a manganese salt, a nickel salt and impurity salts by:
- mixing a delithiated battery black mass and an acidic aqueous solution to form a delithiated battery black mass leachate;
- mixing the delithiated battery black mass leachate and iron powder to form a copper precipitate and a copper depleted solution;
- separating the copper precipitate and the copper depleted solution;
- mixing the copper depleted solution and a base to increase a pH and form one or more metal hydroxide precipitates and a nickel enriched solution;
- separating the one or more metal hydroxide precipitates and the nickel enriched solution;
- mixing an oxidizing gas and the nickel enriched solution to form a manganese oxide precipitate and an aqueous pre-extraction solution;
- and
- mixing the aqueous pre-extraction solution and an organic extractant solution to form an aqueous raffinate phase and a loaded organic phase, wherein the aqueous raffinate phase is the aqueous nickel salt solution and the loaded organic phase comprises the cobalt salt and a second group of impurity salts;
- and
- adjusting a nickel to cathode metal molar ratio in a synthesis of the cathode active material precursor by adding the aqueous nickel salt solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.