Method for recovering an electropositive metal from a metal carbonate

US9624590B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Manfred Baldauf · Erlangen, DE
• Guenter Schmid · Hemhofen, DE
• Dan Taroata · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 25, 2013
• Grant date: Apr 18, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/133
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method recovers an electropositive metal from a metal carbonate. In the method, hydrogen and halogen are combusted to form hydrogen halide. The solid metal carbonate is converted into metal chloride by a gaseous hydrogen halide. In an electrolysis, the metal chloride is decomposed into metal and halogen. The halogen produced in the electrolysis is led out of the electrolysis for combusting. Preferably, the hydrogen halide is produced by combusting the hydrogen and the halogen and the metal carbonate is converted into metal chloride in a fluidized bed reactor. Preferably, lithium is used as the metal.