Environmentally Friendly Recycling of Lithium Ion Batteries
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Authors
Sonoc, Alexandru
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Lithium Ion Batteries , Recycling , Green Chemistry , Donnan Dialysis , Formic Acid , Sodium-Free , Sodium-Free Li2CO3 , Sodium-Free Lithium Carbonate , Zero Liquid Discharge , Recycling of Lithium Ion Batteries , Bicarbonation , Decarbonation , NCM111 , NMC111 , Thermal Decomposition , Thermal Decomposition of Lithium Formate , Thermal Decomposition of LiCOOH , Mixed Ni, Co, and Mn Sulphates , Mixed Ni, Co, and Mn Sulfates , Mixed Sulfates , Lithium , Nickel , Cobalt , Manganese , Formate , Mixed Sulphates , Zero Solid Waste , No Liquid Waste , No Solid Waste , Environmentally Friendly Recycling , Organic Acid Lixiviant , Organic Acid Leaching , Leaching , Formic Acid Leaching
Alternative Title
Abstract
Recycling lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and using their recovered materials to make new ones has many economic, social, and environmental benefits. The greatest benefits come from recycling metals from cathode active materials (CAMs), for example Li, Ni, Co, and Mn from NCM111 (a common electric vehicle CAM). Hydrometallurgical recycling processes, in which CAMs are leached and metals are extracted from the pregnant leach solution (PLS), are favoured because they can recover all metals. Due to the hazards of leaching with strong acids, organic acids are becoming preferred lixiviants; however, they are expensive. In this work, two green chemistry hydrometallurgy processes were developed to recycle CAMs from LIBs. Both processes regenerate organic acid lixiviant, have high Li, Ni, Co, and Mn recoveries, and produce sodium-free Li2CO3.
In the first process, Donnan Dialysis is used to extract Li, then Ni, Co, and Mn, as well as to reprotonate organic acid in PLS. Donnan Dialysis combined with bicarbonation and decarbonation is used to produce Li2CO3 from the Li extract. Heating is not required in the process. Mass balances, charge balances, and mass flux equations were developed. Experiments were performed to obtain mass transfer coefficients. The process was simulated and the results were: recoveries of 94.1% for Li and 99.4% for Ni, Co, and Mn and 98.9% of organic acid reprotonated.
In the second process, formic acid was used to leach NCM111 while simultaneously precipitating Ni, Co, and Mn formate salts. These salts were reacted with sulphuric acid to yield mixed Ni, Co, and Mn sulphate salts and formic acid, which was evaporated. The PLS was saturated with Li2CO3, which precipitated residual Ni, Co, and Mn, and was filtered then dewatered. The LiCOOH salts obtained were thermally decomposed in air to 99.97 wt% Li2CO3. Recoveries of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn were 100%. The process produces neither solid nor liquid waste. By condensing vapours from dewatering and evaporation steps, 66% of the water and 57% of the formic acid needed for leaching can be recovered for reuse. Mixed Ni, Co, and Mn sulphate salts and Li2CO3 can be used to make new LIBs.
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ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.