Lithium Battery Waste Oxidative Extraction for High-Purity Li2CO3
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies for recycling lithium from spent battery materials are inefficient and do not effectively utilize the undesired by-products formed during lithium-ion battery production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the suspension of a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, followed by purification steps such as precipitation and filtration to produce high-purity lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from spent lithium-ion battery waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional recycling methods are used for spent battery materials, then the process is simpler, but the recycling efficiency is low and by-products are not effectively utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The recycling process is divided into distinct sequential stages: pretreatment (shredding, magnetic separation, flotation), acid leaching, solvent extraction, and precipitation. Each stage targets specific components and separates them into different streams, enabling efficient lithium recovery while managing process complexity through modular organization
Solution Approach 2:
The process utilizes controlled changes in chemical parameters (pH, temperature, reagent concentration) and physical parameters (particle size, solvent composition) to optimize lithium extraction efficiency at each stage while maintaining manageable operational complexity
2Speed
If lithium is extracted from spent batteries without preprocessing, then the process is shorter, but the extraction kinetics are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The battery waste undergoes pretreatment operations including shredding to reduce particle size, magnetic separation to remove ferromagnetic materials, and flotation to separate cathode materials from aluminum foil and other components. These preliminary actions increase the surface area and accessibility of lithium-containing materials, significantly improving subsequent extraction kinetics
Solution Approach 2:
Mechanical preprocessing (shredding, grinding) replaces the need for prolonged chemical digestion, enabling faster lithium extraction by increasing material accessibility without requiring excessive time for chemical reactions alone
3Manufacturing precision
If impurities are not removed from the extracted lithium solution, then the process is simpler, but the purity of lithium carbonate product is low
Solution Approach 1:
Solvent extraction uses an organic solvent as an intermediary to selectively transfer lithium from the aqueous leach solution into the organic phase, separating it from most impurities. The solvent acts as a mediator that facilitates high-purity lithium recovery while maintaining a relatively simple overall process structure
Solution Approach 2:
The purification process applies selective precipitation conditions (specific pH ranges, temperature, and reagent addition) that target impurity removal at specific stages without affecting lithium recovery. Each purification step is optimized for removing specific impurity types, achieving high product purity through localized quality control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the efficient recycling of lithium from spent batteries, producing high-purity Li2CO3 that can be reused in the production of new lithium-ion battery cathode materials, thereby improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of lithium production.
Implementation Method 1
suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium
Implementation Method 2
purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of spent lithium battery material. In some aspects, a method can include suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, forming an extracted lithium solution, separating the extracted lithium solution from residual solids of a lithium source, purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities, and precipitating the lithium in the purified lithium solution to generate lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). In some embodiments, the method can further include preprocessing the lithium source to improve kinetics of the lithium extraction. In some embodiments, the preprocessing can include a cutting or shredding step to downsize the lithium source. In some embodiments, the lithium source can include lithium-ion battery waste. In some embodiments, the oxidation reagent can include sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8), potassium persulfate (K2S2O8), ammonium persulfate (NH4)2S2O8, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ozone (O3), and/or nitrous oxide (N2O).