Separation of cobalt and lithium from spent lithium-ion battery leach liquors by ionic liquid extraction using Cyphos IL-101

Abstract

The eventual fading and scrapping of lithium (Li)-ion batteries will result in the formation of a huge urban mine of spent batteries. Hydrometallurgy and further extraction/separation are effective ways in which to recover the valuable metal ions from such batteries. Herein, extraction and recovery of spent lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery leach liquors using Cyphos IL-101 is proposed. Based on the optimization of extraction conditions, continuous circulating extraction, and thermodynamic analysis, Cyphos IL-101 effectively extracted cobalt (Co) ions with excellent stability and high extraction capacity (35.25 g/L). The separation factor of Co and Li (βCo/Li) was 102.11 in 0.5 M HCl at 60 °C under the optimal operation condition. Moreover, an increase in temperature increased Co extraction in the spent Li-ion battery leach liquors. The extractants before and after use were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The extraction mechanism of cobalt ions by Cyphos IL-101 was suggested as that cobalt transferred to the organic phase from the aqueous phase in the form of [CoCl4]2−. 90.5% of Co and 86.2% of Li were recovered by precipitation after extraction separation in the forms of cobalt oxalate and lithium carbonate with the purity 87.4% and 74.2%. This suggested method might provide a promising strategy for recycling spent lithium cobalt oxide batteries.