Recovery of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from spent lithium-ion batteries through a wet-thermal process. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rostami, Tahereh; Khoshandam, Behnam; Maroufi, Samane
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 153(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Carbothermal reduction -- Lithium-ion batteries -- Thermal recycling -- Vacuum reduction; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2022.111897
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Highlights: Recovery of high pure metals from LIBs through a simple and novel process. Using water as a safe and green solution instead of chemicals for Li leaching. Decreasing the evaporation of Li2 CO3 in carbothermic reduction by adding graphite. Sublimation of a small amount of Mn and increasing the purity of Ni and Co contents. Recycling of the leaching residual by the second carbothermal process. Abstract: Recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as a problematic waste stream has become an urgent area of research worldwide. This paper details an efficient, simple, and environmentally friendly technique for metal recovery from a mixture of three types of spent LIBs cathodes. By using the carbothermal process, Li is first isolated in solid lithium carbonate with minimal emission, and to optimize Li isolation the effects of temperature, holding time, and graphite dosage are investigated. Under optimal carbothermal conditions of 700°C, 60 min, and 15% graphite, phases of CoO, NiO, Li2 CO3, and small amounts of Ni and Co are formed. This stage is followed by dissolution in cold water where 94.6% of Li is recovered under optimal leaching conditions. After filtration, the residual component is reduced by the second carbothermal reduction under vacuum at 900°C for 120 min, resulting in the formation of high purity metals. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract