Recycling of LiCoO2 cathode material from spent lithium ion batteries by ultrasonic enhanced leaching and one-step regeneration

Siyuan Zhou; Yingjie Zhang; Qi Meng; Peng Dong; Zitong Fei; Qingxiang Li

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111426

Recycling of LiCoO₂ cathode material from spent lithium ion batteries by ultrasonic enhanced leaching and one-step regeneration

J Environ Manage. 2021 Jan 1:277:111426. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111426. Epub 2020 Oct 5.

Authors

Siyuan Zhou¹, Yingjie Zhang¹, Qi Meng², Peng Dong³, Zitong Fei⁴, Qingxiang Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China; Faculty of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China.
² Faculty of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China. Electronic address: mengqi315117@126.com.
³ Faculty of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China. Electronic address: dongpeng2001@126.com.
⁴ Faculty of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Lithium-ion Batteries and Materials Preparation Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China.
⁵ Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, 518118, China.

PMID: 33032002
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111426

Abstract

A novel process for recycling of spent LiCoO₂ cathode materials has been developed. The novel process comprises an ultrasonic enhanced leaching and one-step regeneration of LiCoO₂ materials with spray drying method. The ultrasonic is novelly applied for effectively improving leaching process of spent LiCoO₂ materials in the system of DL-malic acid and H₂O₂. The leaching efficiencies of 98.13% for Li and 98.86% for Co were presented under the optimal condition of 1.5 mol/L DL-malic acid with 3 vol% H₂O₂, the solid/liquid ratio of 4 g/L, ultrasonic power of 95 W, temperature of 80 °C and leaching time of 25 min. Based on kinetic analysis, the ultrasonic enhanced leaching process is mainly controlled by the diffusion control model. Meanwhile, the product of Co(C₄O₅O₅)₂ formed on particles surface of spent LiCoO₂ materials during ultrasonic enhanced leaching process, which is provided from reaction mechanism analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Finally, the regenerated LiCoO₂ materials are regenerated in one step by spray drying from leaching solution, which present good electrochemical performance.

Keywords: Homogeneous compensation; One-step regeneration; Spent LiCoO(2); Spray drying; Ultrasonic enhanced leaching.

MeSH terms

Electric Power Supplies
Electrodes
Hydrogen Peroxide
Kinetics
Lithium*
Recycling
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Ultrasonics*

Substances

Lithium
Hydrogen Peroxide