Comparative Study of different Recycling Methods for the Electrolyte Recovery from spent Li-Ion Batteries
Licentiate thesis, 2023
As traditional methods fail to recycle the electrolyte from spent LiBs, it is evident that a new approach must be implemented to fill the gap. This work investigated two promising approaches to separate the electrolyte from spent LiBs; low temperature thermal treatment and sub-supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction. Thereby, the analysis emphasized the best possible process conditions to separate the electrolyte from spent LiBs, the composition and purity of the recovered products, and the composition of the exhaust gas emissions during the processes.
The results showed that the low temperature thermal treatment approach enables full separation and collection of the electrolyte solvents dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and ethylene carbonate (EC) after 80 minutes at 130ÂșC. However, the conductive salt LiPF6 decomposed during the process leading to the generation of toxic exhaust gas emissions containing hydrogen fluoride (HF) and phosphorous oxyfluoride (POF3). Sub-scCO2 extraction with CO2 densities between 600-900 kg/m3 was suitable for selectively separating the non-polar electrolyte solvents DMC and EMC from the spent LiB in 30 minutes. The exhaust gas analysis and elemental analysis of the extracted product indicated that LiPF6 did not decompose during the process but remained intact in the spent LiB. Thus, the sub-scCO2 electrolyte extraction can be a promising toxic-emission-free approach for the selective extraction of the non-polar electrolyte solvents from spent LiBs. However, further investigation is required to extract the polar electrolyte solvents and LiPF6.
spectroscopy analysis
recycling process
electrolyte
thermal treatment
lithium-ion battery
supercritical carbon dioxide extraction
exhaust-gas emission characterization
Author
Nils Zachmann
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material
Electrolyte recovery from spent Lithium-Ion batteries using a low temperature thermal treatment process
Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry,;Vol. 118(2023)p. 351-361
Journal article
Zachmann, N; Fox, R; Petranikova, M; Ebin, B - Implementation of a Sub-and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide process for the Selective Recycling of the Electrolyte Carbonate Solvents from Spent Li-Ion Battery
Subject Categories
Chemical Sciences
Publisher
Chalmers
HB1-salen,Hörsalvägen 8, Chalmerbs
Opponent: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Scholl, TU-Braunschweig, Germany