Transformative processes for production of pure feed for the battery and magnet industry

该提案描述了为电池和磁铁行业生产纯饲料的变革过程的发展计划。重点是用于锂离子电池正极生产的镍（Ni）和钴（Co）前驱体的杂质去除，以及用于磁铁生产的稀土元素（REE）化合物的溶剂冶金还原。该项目的近期目标是为加拿大的能源和金属工业提供高质量的原料，而长期目标是通过使用更高效和环保的工艺来实现显著的环境效益。传统的Ni和Co原料除杂工艺依赖于溶剂萃取，需要大量的有机溶剂，工序多，运行成本高，产生大量的废物。传统的稀土还原工艺依赖于熔盐电解，这是一种能源密集型工艺，并且在涉及氟化物或氯化物的腐蚀性环境中进行，由于氯或氟气体而产生环境污染，并且需要很高的运营成本。在这个项目中提出的工艺是基于络合和选择性沉淀去除杂质和溶剂冶金使用钠在液氨和碱和电还原稀土。这些过程是新颖的，需要新的方法方法和密切的学术-行业合作伙伴关系。初步结果已经为这些过程建立了原理证明。该项目利用了哈奇的专业知识和资金，哈奇是一家以知识为基础的先锋咨询公司，也是全球金属、基础设施和能源行业的技术和工厂内服务提供商，与多伦多大学的Azimi集团合作四年。该项目在学术卓越、工业竞争优势和高素质人才方面对加拿大非常有益，因为它为基于知识的经济和环境影响创造了机会，并增强了加拿大矿产、金属和能源部门的技术优势。

This proposal describes the plan for the development of transformative processes for production of pure feed for the battery and magnet industry. The focus is put on impurity removal from nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) precursor for cathode production of lithium-ion batteries as well as solvometallurgical reduction of rare earth element (REE) compounds for magnet production. The proposed project will enable near-term objective of providing high quality feed materials to the Canadian energy and metal industries, as well as long-term objectives of delivering significant environmental benefits by using more efficient and environmentally friendly processes. The conventional process for impurity removal from Ni and Co feed relies on solvent extraction which requires large volumes of organic solvents, large number of stages with high operating cost and generates large volumes of waste. The conventional process for REE reduction relies on molten salt electrolysis that is energy intensive and takes place in a corrosive environment involving fluorides or chlorides, generates environmental pollutions due to chlorine or fluorine gases and requires high operating cost. The proposed processes in this project are based on complexation and selective precipitation for impurity removal and solvometallurgy using sodium in liquid ammonia and alkalides and electrides for REE reduction. These processes are novel and require a fresh methodological approach and close academic-industry partnership. Preliminary results have established proof-of-principle for these processes. This project leverages expertise and funds from Hatch, a knowledge-based pioneer consulting firm and technology and in-plant service provider to the global metals, infrastructure, and energy sectors, in a four-year partnership with the Azimi group at the University of Toronto. This project is highly beneficial for Canada in terms of academic excellence, industrial competitive advantage, and highly qualified personnel, as it creates the opportunity for knowledge based economic and environmental impact as well as enhanced technical edge in the Canadian Minerals, Metals, and Energy sectors.