Recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries through biomass pyrolysis gas-induced reduction

Fengyin Zhou; Xiangyun Li; Shiyu Wang; Xin Qu; Jingjing Zhao; Dihua Wang; Zhiliang Chen; Huayi Yin

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132150

Recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries through biomass pyrolysis gas-induced reduction

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Oct 5:459:132150. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132150. Epub 2023 Jul 24.

Authors

Fengyin Zhou¹, Xiangyun Li¹, Shiyu Wang², Xin Qu¹, Jingjing Zhao¹, Dihua Wang³, Zhiliang Chen⁴, Huayi Yin⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuchang, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Joint Center of Green Manufacturing of Energy Storage Materials of Wuhan University and Chilwee, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
² School of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuchang, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
³ School of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuchang, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Joint Center of Green Manufacturing of Energy Storage Materials of Wuhan University and Chilwee, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Sustainable Resources and Energy, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
⁴ Jiangmen Public Utilities Group, Jiangmen 529200, PR China.
⁵ School of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuchang, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Joint Center of Green Manufacturing of Energy Storage Materials of Wuhan University and Chilwee, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Sustainable Resources and Energy, Wuhan 430072, PR China. Electronic address: yinhuayi@whu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37541117
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132150

Abstract

The development of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) recycling technologies can effectively alleviate environmental pressure and conserve metal resources. We propose a win-win strategy for pyrolysis gas reduction by lignocellulosic biomass, ensuring gas-induced reduction by spatial isolation of biomass and lithium transition metal oxides (LiTMO_X (TM = Ni, Co, Mn)), and avoiding the separation of solid carbon and TMO_X (TM = Ni, Co, Mn). In the spent LiCoO₂ batteries, the lithium recovery efficiency reaches 99.99% and purity reaches 98.3% at 500 °C. In addition, biomass pyrolysis gas reduction is also applicable to treat spent LiMn₂O₄ and LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ batteries. Thermodynamic analysis verifies that CO dominates the gas reduction recovery process. DFT calculation indicates that the gas reduction induces the collapse of the oxygen framework of LiTMO_X (TM = Ni, Co, Mn). Everbatt-based economic and environmental analysis illustrates that this is an environment-friendly and energy-saving method.

Keywords: Pyrolysis gas reduction; Spent lithium-ion battery; Waste Biomass.