Biotreatment for the spent lithium-ion battery in a three-module integrated microbial-fuel-cell recycling system

Tao Huang; Tao Junjun; Wanhui Liu; Dongping Song; Li-Xin Yin; Shuwen Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.029

Biotreatment for the spent lithium-ion battery in a three-module integrated microbial-fuel-cell recycling system

Waste Manag. 2021 May 1:126:377-387. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.029. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Authors

Tao Huang¹, Tao Junjun², Wanhui Liu³, Dongping Song⁴, Li-Xin Yin⁵, Shuwen Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, 215500, China; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Ceramic Materials, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu 215500, China; School of Chemical Engineering & Technology China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
² School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, 215500, China. Electronic address: jjtao@cslg.edu.cn.
³ School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, 215500, China; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Ceramic Materials, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu 215500, China. Electronic address: liuwh@cslg.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, 215500, China.
⁵ School of Economics and Management, Changshu Institute of Technology, No. 99, South 3rd Ring Road, Changshu 215500, China. Electronic address: yinlixin735@163.com.
⁶ Nuclear Resources Engineering College, University of South China, 421001, China.

PMID: 33819901
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.029

Abstract

A bio-electrochemically (BE) recycling platform was assembled to recover Li and Co from the cathodic materials of spent LIBs in one integrated system. The BE platform consists of three microbial-fuel-cell (MFC) subsystems, including MFC-A, MFC-B, and MFC-C. Co and Li were smoothly recovered from the cathodic materials in the assembled platform. The initial pH and the loading ratios of LiCoO₂ both significantly influenced the leaching efficiencies of Li and Co in MFC-A. Approximately 45% Li and 93% Co were simultaneously released through the reduction of LiCoO₂ at the initial pH of 1 and the loading ratios of LiCoO₂ of 0.2 g/L. The (NH₄)₂C₂O₄-modified granular activated carbons (GAC) with a thickness of 1.5 cm was favorably stacked adjacent to the cathode of the MFC-B system. About 98% of removal efficiency (RE_Co1) and 96% of recovery efficiency (RE_Co2) of Co were achieved in MFC-B under optimum conditions. The dosing concentration of Li⁺ lower than 2 mg/L and the (NH₄)₂CO₃ of 0.01-0.02 M were conducive to enhancing the recovery of Li from raffinate and guaranteed the higher power output and coulombic efficiencies in MFC-C. The continuous release of CO₂ caused by exoelectrogenic microorganisms on the biofilm facilitated the precipitation of Li₂CO₃.

Keywords: Electrochemical reduction; Microbial fuel cell; Permeable reaction barrier; Spent lithium-ion battery; Synchronous recovery of Co and Li.

MeSH terms

Electric Power Supplies*
Electrodes
Ions
Lithium*
Recycling

Substances

Ions
Lithium