Recycling of cathode material from spent lithium ion batteries using an ultrasound-assisted DL-malic acid leaching system

Peichao Ning; Qi Meng; Peng Dong; Jianguo Duan; Mingli Xu; Yan Lin; Yingjie Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.002

Recycling of cathode material from spent lithium ion batteries using an ultrasound-assisted DL-malic acid leaching system

Waste Manag. 2020 Feb 15:103:52-60. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.002. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Authors

Peichao Ning¹, Qi Meng², Peng Dong², Jianguo Duan², Mingli Xu², Yan Lin³, Yingjie Zhang²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Battery Materials of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China.
² National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Battery Materials of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; Faculty of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China.
³ National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; Faculty of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China.

PMID: 31865035
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.002

Abstract

Herein, a novel process involving ultrasound-assisted leaching developed for recovering Ni, Li, Co, and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is reported. Carbonate coprecipitation was utilized to regenerate LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ from the leachate. Spent cathode materials were leached in DL-malic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The leaching efficiency was investigated by determining the contents of metal elements such as Li, Ni, Co, and Mn in the leachate using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The filter residue and the spent cathode materials were examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electronic microscopy. The leaching efficiencies were 97.8% for Ni, 97.6% for Co, 97.3% for Mn, and 98% for Li under the optimized conditions (90 W ultrasound power, 1.0 mol/L DL-malic acid, 5 g/L pulp density, 80 °C, 4 vol% H₂O₂, and 30 min). The leaching kinetics of the cathode in DL-malic acid are in accordance with the log rate law model. The electrochemical analysis indicates that the LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ regenerated at pH 8.5 has good electrochemical performance. The specific capacity of the first discharge at 0.1 C is 168.32 mA h g^-1 at 1 C after 50 cycles with a capacity retention of 85.0%. A novel closed-loop process to recycle spent cathode materials was developed, and it has potential value for practical application and for contributing to resource recycling and environmental protection.

Keywords: DL-malic acid; Kinetic analysis; Regeneration; Spent lithium-ion batteries; Ultrasound-assisted leaching.

MeSH terms

Electric Power Supplies
Electrodes
Hydrogen Peroxide*
Lithium*
Malates
Recycling

Substances

Malates
malic acid
Lithium
Hydrogen Peroxide