Recovery of metals from spent lithium-ion batteries using organic acids

• Published in: Hydrometallurgy 2019-12, Vol.190, p.105169, Article 105169
• Main Authors: de Oliveira Demarco, Jessica, Stefanello Cadore, Jéssica, da Silveira de Oliveira, Franciele, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Eduardo, Assumpção Bertuol, Daniel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Leaching; LIB; Organic acid; Recycling; Valuable metal
• ISSN: 0304-386X; 1879-1158
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.105169

An effective and environmentally friendly process was developed for recovering metals present in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), using a mechanical process followed by heat treatment and leaching using malic, citric, and formic acids at concentrations of 2 M. The techniques employed to characterize the process were TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, FT-IR, and EDXRF. The leaching was carried out using different experimental conditions of temperature, volume of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), S/L ratio, and extraction time. The leachate solutions were analyzed by FAAS. The characterization results showed that heat treatment at 700 °C for 2 h was effective for degradation of the graphite and PVDF present in the LIBs. Over 90% of the Co, Li, and Mn present could be extracted using the following conditions: 2 M DL-malic acid, 6% (v/v) H2O2, S/L of 1:20 (m/v), 95 °C, and extraction time of 60 min. The process for recovering metals from spent LIBs using DL-malic acid could be considered economically and environmentally correct, avoiding negative impacts in the environment and recovering metals with high added value that could be used in the manufacturing of new products. •Mechanical processes of whole batteries and granulometric separation of components•Investigating the possibility of leaching of LIBs by using three organic acids•Efficiency of the heat treatment in the degradation of the graphite and PVDF•Recovery of >90% of Co, Li, and Mn in DL-malic acid and H2O2