Maximizing resource recovery: A green and economic strategy for lithium extraction from spent ternary batteries

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-07, Vol.472, p.134472-134472, Article 134472
• Main Authors: Hao, Jiacheng, Hao, Jiayu, Liu, Dongfu, He, Lihua, Liu, Xuheng, Zhao, Zhongwei, Zhao, Tianyu, Xu, Wenhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrochemical lithium extraction system; LiFePO4; Selective lithium extraction; Spent ternary leachate
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134472

Spent ternary lithium-ion batteries contain abundant lithium resource, and their proper disposal is conducive to environmental protection and the comprehensive utilization of resources. Separating valuable metals in the ternary leaching solution is the key to ensuring resource recovery. However, the traditional post-lithium extraction strategies, which heavily rely on ion exchange to remove transition metal ions in the leachate, encounter challenges in achieving satisfactory lithium yields and purities. Based on this, this paper proposed a new strategy to prioritize lithium extraction from ternary leachate using “(+) LiFePO4/FePO4 (-)” lithium extraction system. The preferential recovery of lithium can be realized by controlling the potential over 0.1 V versus Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE) without introducing any impurity ions. The lithium recovery rate reaches 98.91%, while the rejection rate of transition ions exceeds 99%, and the separation coefficients of lithium to transition metal ions can reach 126. Notably, the resulting lithium-rich liquid can directly prepare lithium carbonate with a purity of 99.36%. It provides a green and efficient strategy for the preferential recovery of lithium from the spent ternary leachate. [Display omitted] •EDI method is proposed to preferentially extract Li+ from the leachate.•Li+ can be extracted selectively by controlling the cathode potential above 0.1 V.•Li+ recovery reaches 98.91% and the divalent ions retention rate is higher than 99%.•The industrial grade-0 Li2CO3 can be prepared with a purity of 99.36% in one step.