Abstract:
The purpose of the method is to remove chlorides and fluorides from a valuable metal raw material by leaching the raw material into sulphuric acid solution and by crystallizing the valuable metal sulphate selectively out of the solution. The valuable metal sulphate crystals are washed in sulphuric acid solution, and the recovered dechlorinated and defluorinated crystals are leached into water and conducted into electrolysis. The sulphuric acid solution employed in the raw material leaching and in the crystal washing is preferably the same as the return acid of the electrolysis. Chlorides and fluorides are removed from the mother liquor of crystallization in the bleed.
Abstract:
In the production of hydrogen fluoride and metal sulfates by the reaction of sulfuric acid and a metal fluoride, e.g. fluorspar, wherein the fluorspar is preheated, the improvement which comprises effecting the preheating by continuously heating the metal fluoride to about 500* to 800*C in a gas/solid suspension with a gas charge of about 0.2 to 4 kg/Nm3 and then reacting the preheated metal fluoride with sulfuric acid at a temperature of about 100* to 500*C. The preheating is preferably effected in counterflow with hot combustion gases, the preheater either having alternating constricted and widened zones or allowing the fluorspar to be alternately suspended in and separated from the gas passing through the preheater. The sulfuric acid is conveniently added to the fluorspar at a plurality of points prior to entry into the main reactor. In addition, an alkaline substance such as calcium oxide or hydroxide which reacts exothermically with sulfuric acid may be added to the preheater or thereafter so as to provide additional heat for the main reaction. The sulfuric acid may contain sulfur trioxide or oleum, preferably in appropriate amount to react with the by-product water formed from the exothermic reaction of the calcium or hydroxide.
Abstract:
An apparatus for providing contact between a liquid and solid particles having an upright vessel with an upper outlet and a pair of lower outlets, a plurality of concentric upwardly directed inlets into said vessel with one of the outer inlets including a means for swirling its discharge around the inner inlet, means for axially adjusting the discharge position of the central inlet and means for directing oversized particles to one of said lower outlets and smaller particles to the other of said lower outlets. Such apparatus is particularly useful in providing intimate contact between solid salts and an acid, such as salt such as sodium chloride, to produce a volatile acid and sulfate granules.
Abstract:
A treatment process for crystallizing a metal sulfate involving pre-treating a feedstock comprising calcium, magnesium, and/or lithium impurities, the pre-treating involving pre-leaching the feedstock in the presence of a lixiviant, selectively extracting a first portion of any of the impurities from the feedstock, and forming a leached solution comprising an uncrystallized metal sulfate and any remaining impurities; and/or refining the leached solution and removing a second portion of any of the remaining impurities; and crystallizing the uncrystallized metal sulfate from the leached solution to form a crystallized metal sulfate. So processed, the crystallized metal sulfate may be battery-grade or electroplating-grade.
Abstract:
Processes for regenerating alkali process streams are disclosed herein, including streams containing sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and combinations thereof. Systems for regenerating alkali process streams are disclosed herein, including streams containing sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.