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Chen Q, Zhang X, Cheng R, Shi H, Pei Y, Yang J, Zhao Q, Zhao X, Wu F. Crystal phase and nanoscale size regulation utilizing the in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of bamboo sawdust in the recycling of spent lithium batteries. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 182:186-196. [PMID: 38670002 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Current Li-ion battery (LIB) recycling methods exhibit the disadvantages of low metal recovery efficiencies and high levels of pollution and energy consumption. Here, products generated via the in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of bamboo sawdust (BS) were utilized to regulate the crystal phase and nanoscale size of the NCM cathode to enhance the selective Li extraction and leaching efficiencies of other valuable metals from spent LIBs. The catalytic effect of the NCM cathode significantly promoted the release of gases from BS pyrolysis. These gases (H2, CO, and CH4) finally transformed the crystal phase of the NCM cathode from LiNixCoyMnzO2 into (Ni-Co/MnO/Li2CO3)/C. The size of the spent NCM cathode material was reduced approximately 31.7-fold (from 4.1 μm to 129.2 nm) after roasting. This could be ascribed to the in-situ catalytic decomposition of aromatic compounds generated via the primary pyrolysis of BS into C and H2 on the surface of the cathode material, resulting in the formation of the nanoscale composite (Ni-Co/MnO/Li2CO3)/C. This process enabled the targeted control of the crystal phase and nanoscale size of the material. Water leaching studies revealed a remarkable selective Li extraction efficiency of 99.27 %, and sulfuric acid leaching experiments with a concentration of 2 M revealed high extraction efficiencies of 99.15 % (Ni), 93.87 % (Co), and 99.46 % (Mn). Finally, a novel mechanism involving synergistic thermo-reduction and carbon modification for crystal phase regulation and nanoscale control was proposed. This study provides a novel concept for use in enhancing the recycling of valuable metals from spent LIBs utilizing biomass waste and practices the concept of "treating waste with waste".
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| | - Xuejiao Zhang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Rui Cheng
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; College of Chemistry, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China.
| | - Huawei Shi
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Yanbo Pei
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Jingjing Yang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| | - Qing Zhao
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
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Zhao T, Mahandra H, Choi Y, Li W, Zhang Z, Zhao Z, Chen A. A clean and sustainable method for recycling of lithium from spent lithium iron phosphate battery powder by using formic acid and oxygen. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170930. [PMID: 38354790 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
With the widespread adoption of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, the imperative recycling of LiFePO4 batteries waste presents formidable challenges in resource recovery, environmental preservation, and socio-economic advancement. Given the current overall lithium recovery rate in LiFePO4 batteries is below 1 %, there is a compelling demand for an eco-friendly, cost-efficient, and sustainable solution. This study introduces a green and sustainable recycling method that employs environmentally benign formic acid and readily available oxygen as reaction agents for selectively leaching lithium from discarded lithium iron phosphate powder. Formic acid was employed as the leaching agent, and oxygen served as the oxidizing agent. Utilizing a single-factor variable approach, various factors including formic acid concentration, oxygen flow rate, leaching time, liquid-to-solid ratio, and reaction temperature were individually investigated. Moreover, the feasibility of this method was explored mechanistically by analyzing E-pH diagrams of the Li-Fe-P-H2O system. Results demonstrate that under conditions of 2.5 mol/L formic acid concentration, 0.12 L/min oxygen flow rate, 25 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, 70 °C reaction temperature, and 3 h reaction time, lithium leaching efficiency exceeds 99.9 %, with iron leaching efficiency only at 1.7 %. Moreover, we also explored using air instead of oxygen as the oxidant and get the excellent lithium leaching rate (97.81 %) and low iron leaching rate (4.81 %), which shows the outstanding selectivity. Furthermore, the environmentally benign composition of the chemical reagents, comprising only C, H, and O elements, establishes it as a genuinely green and sustainable technology for secondary resource recovery. It can be considered as a highly environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient approach. Nevertheless, in the current context of carbon neutrality and sustainable development, this method undoubtedly holds excellent prospects for industrialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhao
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen's University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L3N6, Canada.
| | - Harshit Mahandra
- The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen's University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L3N6, Canada
| | - Yeonuk Choi
- The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen's University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L3N6, Canada.
| | - Weilun Li
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Zhifei Zhang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Zhongwei Zhao
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Ailiang Chen
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
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