	US 11,695,169 B2
	Process for the preparation of precursor compounds for lithium battery cathodes
Harald Oosterhof, Westerlo (BE); Jean Scoyer, Herentals (BE); Lennart Scheunis, Olen (BE); Bart Klaasen, Olen (BE); and Willem Callebaut, Hoboken (BE)
Assigned to UMICORE, Brussels (BE)
Appl. No. 17/604,002
Filed by UMICORE, Brussels (BE)
PCT Filed Apr. 17, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/060806 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 15, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/212546, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 22, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19170392 (EP), filed on Apr. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0216534 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 10/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/54 (2006.01); C22B 1/00 (2006.01); C22B 3/00 (2006.01); H01M 6/52 (2006.01); C22B 7/00 (2006.01); C22B 26/12 (2006.01); C22B 47/00 (2006.01)

CPC H01M 10/54 (2013.01) [C22B 1/005 (2013.01); C22B 7/003 (2013.01); C22B 7/007 (2013.01); C22B 23/0415 (2013.01); C22B 23/0492 (2013.01); C22B 26/12 (2013.01); C22B 47/00 (2013.01); H01M 6/52 (2013.01)]

14 Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a precursor compound for the synthesis of cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries, comprising the steps of:

reducing smelting of a metallurgical charge comprising spent rechargeable lithium batteries or their scrap containing Ni, Co, Al, Li, F, either one or both of Cu and Fe, and fluxing agents, thereby producing an alloy comprising the major part of the Ni, Co, and Cu, at least part of the Fe, and depleted in Al, Li and F;

leaching the alloy in a mineral acid, thereby obtaining a Ni- and Co-bearing solution also containing either one or both of Cu and Fe;

refining the Ni- and Co-bearing solution, by removing the therein contained Cu and Fe, thereby obtaining a purified Ni- and Co-bearing solution; and

simultaneous precipitation of Ni and Co from the purified Ni- and Co-bearing solution as hydroxides or salts, by heat treatment, crystallization, or addition of hydroxide or carbonate, thereby obtaining a solid suitable for the synthesis of cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries.