Implementation of a sub-and supercritical carbon dioxide process for the selective recycling of the electrolyte from spent Li-ion battery
Journal article, 2024

The electrolyte in spent Li-ion batteries is prone to cause a high risk of hazardous emissions (HF, etc.) in the state-of-the-art recycling processes. It is the main source of fire risks and represents a significant burden for the recyclers due to the safety. Still, extended research to fully recycle the electrolyte without its destruction at elevated temperature is scarce. This study focuses on the electrolyte extraction from spent LiBs using sub- and supercritical carbon dioxide to fill this gap. The effects of the critical process parameters, pressure (60–120 bar), temperature (15–55 °C) and extraction time (1–50 min) from spent pouch cells were investigated. The results showed that the CO2 density, which is related to pressure and temperature, is significant for the recovery of the non-polar electrolyte solvents. The most important outcome is that dimethyl carbonate, and ethyl methyl carbonate were fully selectively extracted at the studied conditions, whereas the polar ethylene carbonate was extracted only in trace amounts. As results indicated, LiPF6 did not decompose in the proposed process whereby the toxic-gas emissions were dramatically minimized compared to the state-of-the-art recycling processes.

Supercritical CO2

Electrolyte

Lithium-ion battery

Spectroscopy

Recycling

Author

Nils Zachmann

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Robert V. Fox

Idaho National Laboratory

Martina Petranikova

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Burcak Ebin

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Journal of CO2 Utilization

22129820 (ISSN)

Vol. 81 March 102703

RHINOCEROS Batteries reuse and direct production of high performances cathodic and anodic materials and other raw materials from batteries recycling using low cost and environmentally friendly technologies

European Commission (EC) (EC/HE/101069685), 2022-06-01 -- 2026-05-31.

Implementering av superkritisk CO2-teknik för stegvis återvinning av elektrolyt, organiska ämnen och elektroder från förbrukade fordonsbatterier

Formas (2021-01699), 2022-01-01 -- 2025-12-31.

Development of innovative supercritical fluid technology for stepwise recycling of organics, electrolyte and electrodes from Li-ion battery waste

Swedish Energy Agency (50124-1), 2020-09-01 -- 2023-08-31.

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Chemical Sciences

Areas of Advance

Production

Energy

Infrastructure

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

DOI

10.1016/j.jcou.2024.102703

More information

Latest update

10/10/2024