Lithium-Ion Black Mass Leaching with SO2 and Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrometallurgical processes for extracting metals from lithium-ion battery black mass are inefficient and environmentally impactful, with high metal losses and the need for costly reagents, particularly in the acid leaching and subsequent recovery steps.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acid leaching in a sulphuric environment using sulphur dioxide (SO2) as a reducing agent and molecular oxygen to enhance the solubilization of transition metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, optimizing the leaching process by adjusting pH and gas feed rates to improve metal recovery efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional acid leaching is used to extract metals from black mass, then metal solubilization occurs, but the process is inefficient with high metal losses and requires costly reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the leaching process by using sulfuric acid combined with sulfur dioxide and oxygen, creating a specific chemical environment that enhances metal solubilization. This parameter change transforms the conventional inefficient leaching into a high-efficiency process that recovers metals effectively while minimizing losses
Solution Approach 2:
Sulfur dioxide acts as an intermediary substance in the leaching process. It serves as a reducing agent that facilitates the dissolution of metal oxides by converting them into soluble sulfate forms, thereby mediating between the acid and the metal compounds to achieve efficient extraction
2Productivity
If conventional acid leaching is used to extract metals from black mass, then metal solubilization occurs, but the process has high environmental impact and requires costly reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts potentially harmful substances into beneficial ones. Sulfur dioxide, which can be an environmental pollutant, is utilized as a reducing agent that enhances metal dissolution. The process transforms what could be harmful into a useful function, reducing environmental impact while improving extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical parameters to use a sulfuric acid-sulfur dioxide-oxygen system, the process achieves better environmental performance. This parameter change reduces the need for costly and potentially harmful conventional reagents while maintaining or improving extraction efficiency
3Productivity
If conventional acid leaching is used to extract metals from black mass, then metal solubilization occurs, but the cost of reagents is high
Solution Approach 1:
The leaching system is designed to be self-sustaining through the interaction of sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen. The sulfur dioxide reduces metal oxides to soluble forms, and the oxygen re-oxidizes the sulfur dioxide, creating a cyclic process that reduces the need for additional costly reagents while maintaining high extraction efficiency
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 approach results in high-efficiency solubilization and selective recovery of metals, reducing the need for additional acid and minimizing the presence of harmful reagents, leading to more economical and environmentally friendly metal extraction from lithium-ion battery black mass.
Implementation Method 1
The leaching is a reductive leaching, using SO2 as reducing agent, while a gas containing molecular oxygen is used to provide an even more efficient solubilization.
Implementation Method 2
a gas containing molecular oxygen is used to provide an even more efficient solubilization
Implementation Method 3
The sulphuric acid used in the present method forms the basis of the sulfatization of the cathode metals in the black mass, required to solubilize these metals. In fact, the sulphuric acid is capable of converting any cathode metals, in their lowest oxidation number, into their more soluble sulphates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for extracting metals from the black mass of lithium-ion batteries, the black mass containing the anode and cathode materials of the batteries, wherein the cathode material comprises lithium, nickel, and cobalt. The method is carried out by an arrangement that is suitable for use in the method.