Abstract

The feasibility of using low-environmental-impact leaching media to recover valuable metals from lithium ion batteries (LIBs) has been evaluated. Several deep eutectic solvents (DES) were tested as leaching agents in the presence of different type of additives (i.e., H2O2). The optimization of Co recovery was carried out by investigating various operating conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, solid (black mass) to liquid (DES) ratio, additive type, and concentration. Leaching with final selected DES choline chloride (33%), lactic acid (53%), and citric acid (13%) at 55 °C achieved an extraction yield of more than 95% for the cobalt. The leaching mechanism likely begins with the dissolution of the active material in the black mass (BM) followed by chelation of Co(II) with the DES. The results obtained confirm that those leaching media are an eco-friendly alternative to the strong inorganic acids used nowadays.

Highlights

  • Batteries are essential for the energy storage in the electronics used in our everyday lives, from small portable electronic devices (PEDs), from cell phones and laptops to medical devices or electric vehicles (EV)

  • Batteries include a great variety of components, such as valuable metals (Li, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu, Al, . . . ), graphite, and organic compounds

  • Samples were immersed in epoxy r3esoifn[6] and polished before analysis in order to obtain homogeneous dispersion of particles

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Summary

Introduction

Batteries are essential for the energy storage in the electronics used in our everyday lives, from small portable electronic devices (PEDs), from cell phones and laptops to medical devices or electric vehicles (EV). A battery cell functions by the reversible transportation of ions and electrons between the anode and cathode separated by a porous membrane generally made of plastics and filled with organic electrolyte containing additive salts. The anode and cathode are constructed by powder of active electrode materials (e.g., cobalt, nickel, manganese, and iron) attached on current cooper and aluminum collector foils. Future waste production forecasts estimate 7.8 million tons of end of life (EOL) EV battery modules per year by 2040 [1], which is above the current global recycling capacity. Legislation in Europe has defined that all the spent batteries collected must undergo treatment and recycling. Despite their continued extensive implementation, methods to recycle and reuse EOL battery materials are still under development

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