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Fu Y, Dong X, Ebin B. Resource Recovery of Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Materials by a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide System. Molecules 2024; 29:1638. [PMID: 38611917 PMCID: PMC11013235 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing global market size of high-energy storage devices due to the boom in electric vehicles and portable electronics has caused the battery industry to produce a lot of waste lithium-ion batteries. The liberation and de-agglomeration of cathode material are the necessary procedures to improve the recycling derived from spent lithium-ion batteries, as well as enabling the direct recycling pathway. In this study, the supercritical (SC) CO2 was innovatively adapted to enable the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on facilitating the interaction with a binder and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) co-solvent. The results show that the optimum experimental conditions to liberate the cathode particles are processing at a temperature of 70 °C and 80 bar pressure for a duration of 20 min. During the treatment, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was dissolved in the SC fluid system and collected in the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), as detected by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). The liberation yield of the cathode from the current collector reaches 96.7% under optimal conditions and thus, the cathode particles are dispersed into smaller fragments. Afterwards, PVDF can be precipitated and reused. In addition, there is no hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas emission due to binder decomposition in the suggested process. The proposed SC-CO2 and co-solvent system effectively separate the PVDF from Li-ion battery electrodes. Thus, this approach is promising as an alternative pre-treatment method due to its efficiency, relatively low energy consumption, and environmental benign features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanpeng Fu
- School of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China;
- Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Ministry of Education, Xuzhou 221116, China
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry and Industrial Material Recycling, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Xianshu Dong
- School of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China;
| | - Burçak Ebin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry and Industrial Material Recycling, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
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2
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Lei S, Sun W, Yang Y. Comprehensive Technology for Recycling and Regenerating Materials from Spent Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3609-3628. [PMID: 38329241 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery has been widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage for its good cyclicity, high level of safety, and low cost. The massive application of LFP battery generates a large number of spent batteries. Recycling and regenerating materials from spent LFP batteries has been of great concern because it can significantly recover valuable metals and protect the environment. This paper aims to critically assess the latest technical information available on the echelon utilization and recycling of spent LFP batteries. First, it focuses on the progress of disassembly, evaluation and detection, regrouping, and application in echelon utilization. Then, the recycling technologies, including pretreatment, direct repair, and material regeneration, of spent LFPs are summarized. Finally, the paper proposes some challenges in the echelon utilization and recycling of spent LFP batteries, and concludes with recommendations for an intelligent, refined, and clean LFP battery circulation system that are required to ensure the sustainable development of spent LFP battery recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuya Lei
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Wei Sun
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Carbon Emission Reduction in Metal Resource Exploitation and Utilization, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Clean and Efficient Utilization of Strategic Calcium-containing Mineral Resources, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Yue Yang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Carbon Emission Reduction in Metal Resource Exploitation and Utilization, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Clean and Efficient Utilization of Strategic Calcium-containing Mineral Resources, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
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3
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Giesler J, Weirauch L, Rother A, Thöming J, Pesch GR, Baune M. Sorting Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Materials Using Dielectrophoresis. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:26635-26643. [PMID: 37521612 PMCID: PMC10373188 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are common in everyday life and the demand for their raw materials is increasing. Additionally, spent LIBs should be recycled to achieve a circular economy and supply resources for new LIBs or other products. Especially the recycling of the active material of the electrodes is the focus of current research. Existing approaches for recycling (e.g., pyro-, hydrometallurgy, or flotation) still have their drawbacks, such as the loss of materials, generation of waste, or lack of selectivity. In this study, we test the behavior of commercially available LiFePO4 and two types of graphite microparticles in a dielectrophoretic high-throughput filter. Dielectrophoresis is a volume-dependent electrokinetic force that is commonly used in microfluidics but recently also for applications that focus on enhanced throughput. In our study, graphite particles show significantly higher trapping than LiFePO4 particles. The results indicate that nearly pure fractions of LiFePO4 can be obtained with this technique from a mixture with graphite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Giesler
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Laura Weirauch
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Alica Rother
- Center
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Jorg Thöming
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Center
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Georg R. Pesch
- School
of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Michael Baune
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Center
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
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Niu B, Xu Z, Xiao J, Qin Y. Recycling Hazardous and Valuable Electrolyte in Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: Urgency, Progress, Challenge, and Viable Approach. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37339582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is becoming a hot global issue due to the huge amount of scrap, hazardous, and valuable materials associated with end-of-life LIBs. The electrolyte, accounting for 10-15 wt % of spent LIBs, is the most hazardous substance involved in recycling spent LIBs. Meanwhile, the valuable components, especially Li-based salts, make recycling economically beneficial. However, studies of electrolyte recycling still account for only a small fraction of the number of spent LIB recycling papers. On the other hand, many more studies about electrolyte recycling have been published in Chinese but are not well-known worldwide due to the limitations of language. To build a bridge between Chinese and Western academic achievements on electrolyte treatments, this Review first illustrates the urgency and importance of electrolyte recycling and analyzes the reason for its neglect. Then, we introduce the principles and processes of the electrolyte collection methods including mechanical processing, distillation and freezing, solvent extraction, and supercritical carbon dioxide. We also discuss electrolyte separation and regeneration with an emphasis on methods for recovering lithium salts. We discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of recycling processes. Moreover, we propose five viable approaches for industrialized applications to efficiently recycle electrolytes that combine different processing steps, ranging from mechanical processing with heat distillation to mechanochemistry and in situ catalysis, and to discharging and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. We conclude with a discussion of future directions for electrolyte recycling. This Review will contribute to electrolyte recycling more efficiently, environmentally friendly, and economically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Niu
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei Baoding 071000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenming Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiefeng Xiao
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Jiemei Road 668, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yufei Qin
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
- Jiangxi Green Recycling Co., Ltd., Fengcheng 331100, Jiangxi China
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Wang M, Liu K, Yu J, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Valix M, Tsang DC. Challenges in Recycling Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: Spotlight on Polyvinylidene Fluoride Removal. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2023; 7:2200237. [PMID: 36910467 PMCID: PMC10000285 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202200237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the recycling of retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the cathode materials containing valuable metals should be first separated from the current collector aluminum foil to decrease the difficulty and complexity in the subsequent metal extraction. However, strong the binding force of organic binder polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) prevents effective separation of cathode materials and Al foil, thus affecting metal recycling. This paper reviews the composition, property, function, and binding mechanism of PVDF, and elaborates on the separation technologies of cathode material and Al foil (e.g., physical separation, solid-phase thermochemistry, solution chemistry, and solvent chemistry) as well as the corresponding reaction behavior and transformation mechanisms of PVDF. Due to the characteristic variation of the reaction systems, the dissolution, swelling, melting, and degradation processes and mechanisms of PVDF exhibit considerable differences, posing new challenges to efficient recycling of spent LIBs worldwide. It is critical to separate cathode materials and Al foil and recycle PVDF to reduce environmental risks from the recovery of retired LIBs resources. Developing fluorine-free alternative materials and solid-state electrolytes is a potential way to mitigate PVDF pollution in the recycling of spent LIBs in the EV era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Kang Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Jiadong Yu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution ControlSchool of EnvironmentTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Qiaozhi Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Yuying Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Marjorie Valix
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of SydneyDarlingtonNSW2008Australia
| | - Daniel C.W. Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomKowloonHong KongChina
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6
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Ma C, Wang X, Song Y, Hu H, Li W, Qiu Z, Cui Y, Xing W. Low‐temperature performance optimization of LiFePO
4
‐based batteries. ASIA-PAC J CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/apj.2841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chunxiang Ma
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Yijun Song
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Haoyu Hu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Zhijian Qiu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Yongpeng Cui
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
| | - Wei Xing
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing China University of Petroleum Qingdao China
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