IP Library › Granted Patent US 12709786
Granted Patent B2
US 12709786 · App. 18/032,007 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Selective recovery of Li

Inventor: Koen Vandaele (Reading, GB)
Assignee: Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd.
C22B26/12C22B7/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709786
App. No.
18/032,007
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for selectively removing Li from an input material comprising Li and one or more transition metals, comprising the steps of: contacting said input material with a leaching medium comprising formic acid; and leaching Li from the input material to form a leachate; wherein the concentration of formic acid in the leaching medium is at least 70 wt. %.

Claims (18)

1 . A method for selectively removing Li from an input material comprising Li and one or more transition metals, comprising the steps of:

contacting said input material with a leaching medium comprising formic acid and a sulphate salt; and

leaching Li from the input material to form a leachate;

wherein the concentration of formic acid in the leaching medium is at least 70 wt. %.

2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input material comprises one or more of: nickel, manganese and/or cobalt, in addition to Li.

3 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input material comprises nickel, manganese and cobalt, in addition to Li.

4 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the concentration of formic acid in the leaching medium is at least 80 wt. %.

5 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the concentration of formic acid in the leaching medium is at least 95 wt. %.

6 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the leaching medium comprises H 2 O 2 .

7 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of leaching Li from the input material to form a leachate involves heating to a temperature of at least 60° C.

8 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of leaching Li from the input material to form a leachate involves heating to a temperature of at least 80° C.

9 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of leaching Li from the input material to form a leachate involves heating to at least the boiling point of the leaching medium.

10 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of leaching Li from the input material to form a leachate involves heating under reflux.

11 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the leaching medium includes a non-metal sulphate salt.

12 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the leaching medium includes (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 .

13 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the leaching is carried out with agitation of the input material.

14 . A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the agitation is carried out with stirring.

15 . A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the agitation is carried out with ultrasound.