Cyclic process for wet-chemically producing lithium metal phosphates

US9242864B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Johnson Matthey PLC · GB

Inventors

• Gerhard Nuspl · Munich, DE
• Christian Vogler · Blaustein, DE
• Josefine Zuber · Landshut, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 17, 2006
• Grant date: Jan 26, 2016
• Expiry date: May 8, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01B25/37
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing lithium metal phosphates of a formula LiMPO4, wherein M is at least one type of bivalent metal, preferably selected from the first transition metal range. The inventive method consists in reacting a lithium phosphate with a metal salt and an acid phosphate source in a polar solvent for converting into a corresponding M-containing phosphate, in adding a basic lithium source for obtaining a precursor mixture for a desired lithium metal phosphate, in converting and separating the thus obtained mixture, preferably in hydrothermal conditions, in such a way that a desired final product is obtained, thereby receiving a lithium-containing filtrate. The addition of the basic lithium source initiates a lithium ion precipitation in the form of a lithium phosphate. The thus obtainable lithium phosphate can be reused in the form of a raw material, whereby said cycle enables lithium to be highly reusable.