Selective extraction and separation of metal values from leach liquor of mixed spent Li-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers 2015-10, Vol.55, p.119-125
• Main Authors: Nayl, A.A., Hamed, Mostafa M., Rizk, S.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Extraction; LIBs; Metals ion; Na-CYANEX 272; Separation
• ISSN: 1876-1070; 1876-1089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2015.04.006

•Acorga M5640 can be used as an extractant for separation of some impurities ions such as Fe(III), Cu(II) and Al(III) from leach liquor of mixed types of spent LIBs. When a pH close to 1.0, 99.2% Cu was extracted, at pH 2.0–2.2 about 94% Fe(III) and 95.6% Al(III) was also extracted, respectively, while the extraction of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Li(I) was negligible under these conditions.•The highest extraction value of 92.5% Mn(II) and 81% Co(II) of was extracted with a minimum of 5.94% Ni(II) and 10% Li(I) co-extraction by using 0.04 M Na-CYANEX 272 at pH of 5.0 for 10.0 min with O/A ratio of unity at 25 °C.•Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be extracted as (MA2•3HA)(org) species from leach liquor by Na–CYANEX 272, while Li(I) can be extracted as (MA•2HA)(org) species.•By using 0.1 M H2SO4 as stripping agent about 99.1% Mn and 99.7% Co was stripped with O/A ratio of 1/2 for mixing time of 10 min at 25 °C.•By precipitation, about 99.7% pure Mn(II) and > 99% Co(II) was precipitated.•Ni(II) was precipitated as NiCO3 with ≈99.4% purity and Li2CO3 with purity > 99.6% was precipitated. This work describes the extraction and separation of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Li(I) from the leach liquor of mixed lithium ion batteries using 0.04 M Na-CYANEX272. Before the extraction step, elimination of some impurities such as Fe(III), Cu(II) and Al (III) was carried out by 20% Acorga M5640 in kerosene with agitation for 5 min at 30 °C at equal phase ratio of unity. The effects of the different parameters affecting the extraction rate, such as mixing time, pH, extractant concentration and temperature, were separately investigated. The obtained results indicate that the extraction behavior of the investigated metal ions depends on the pH value, where 91.2% Mn(II), 89.3% Co(II) and 95.6% Ni(II) were extracted at pH 3.5, 5.0 and 8.0, respectively, while the extraction of Li(I) was almost constant regardless of the pH value. Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) were extracted in the organic phase as (MA2•3HA)(org) while Li(I) was extracted as (MA•2HA)(org). The thermodynamic parameters were calculated by applying Van't Hoff equations. A complete stripping and precipitation from the organic and aqueous phases could be achieved with different stripping and precipitating agents. Precipitates of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Li(I) with purity > 99% could be obtained under the investigated conditions. [Display omitted]