Intensification of lithium carbonation in the thermal treatment of spent EV Li-ion batteries via waste utilization and selective recovery by water leaching
Journal article, 2023

The recycling of lithium-ion batteries remains an essential question, the recovery of lithium is a central matter since the European Commission identified it as a critical raw material. This article proposes a more effective technology in which lithium will be recovered as lithium carbonate earlier in the recycling process using thermal pre-treatment and water leaching. Two thermal treatments are compared: incineration and pyrolysis, the whole cell (cathode, anode, current collector foils, and separator) is thermally treated in a first route, while the separator is removed, in a second route. The separator's presence showed a significant positive effect on the recovery, with an optimal recovery of 62% after pyrolysis at 700°C for 1 h and water leaching at 25°C with a solid-liquid ratio of 1:50 g/ml. Under these conditions, the solution purity was 92%, and aluminum was leached together with lithium. After evaporation, lithium carbonate and fluoride are found in the residue.

Lithium-ion batteries

Water leaching

Recycling

Pyrolysis

Incineration

Lithium

Author

Léa Rouquette

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Tom Lemaitre

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Nathalia Cristine Vieceli

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Martina Petranikova

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Resources, Conservation and Recycling Advances

26673789 (ISSN)

Vol. 17 200125

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Energy

Subject Categories

Chemical Process Engineering

Other Chemical Engineering

Water Treatment

DOI

10.1016/j.rcradv.2022.200125

More information

Latest update

12/21/2022