CRYSTALLIZATION PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF METALS

The present disclosure is related to a crystallization process for the recovery of metals from starting materials comprising Ni and Li. The starting materials, either in aqueous solution or solid form, are reacted with an aqueous solution, reaching an acidity of preferably at least 500 g/L sulfuric acid, at a temperature of at least 45° C. Upon solid/liquid separation of the reaction products, a solid residue comprising the major part of the Ni as a hydrated sulfate, and an effluent solution comprising the major part of the Li, are obtained. This process is particularly suitable for recycling lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.