Patent ID: 9702024
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: C01B,C01G,C01P,C22B,H01M,Y02P,Y02W

Claim:
1. A method for hydrometallurgical recovery of lithium, nickel, and cobalt from a fraction of used galvanic cells containing lithium transition metal oxides comprising the steps of: introducing a fraction containing lithium transition metal oxides, wherein the transition metals are nickel, cobalt and/or manganese, having an aluminum content up to 5 wt. % and a particle size up to 500 μm into sulphuric acid having a concentration of 0.5 to 4 mol/l in an amount that is at least stoichiometric relative to the oxide content of the fraction containing lithium transition metal oxides and in a liquid/solid ratio in a range of 20 to 250 g/l; solubilizing the lithium contained in the fraction containing lithium transition metal oxides with addition of at least a stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide relative to the transition metal content of the fraction containing lithium transition metal oxide at temperatures of 35 to 70° C., wherein a solution containing lithium sulphate and sulphates of the transition metals is formed; separating the lithium sulphate and the sulphates of the transition metals from a remaining residue; and washing the remaining residue at least twice, wherein a washing solution containing lithium sulphate-containing washing solution is formed; wherein the separated lithium sulphate and the lithium sulphate-containing washing solution are combined, wherein the transition metals are precipitated as hydroxides in the pH range of 9 to 11, and the transition metals are separated and washed, and wherein the combined lithium sulphate and the lithium sulphate-containing washing solution is converted by means of electrodialysis with bipolar membranes into lithium hydroxide.