Optimized Li and Fe recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries a solution-precipitation method

• Published in: RSC advances 2016-05, Vol.6 (49), p.43613-43625
• Main Authors: Zheng, Rujuan, Zhao, Li, Wang, Wenhui, Liu, Yuanlong, Ma, Quanxin, Mu, Deying, Li, Ruhong, Dai, Changsong
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra05477c

A new process is optimized and presented for the recovery and regeneration of LiFePO 4 from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The recycling process reduces the cost and secondary pollution caused by complicated separation and purification processes in spent LIB recycling. Amorphous FePO 4 ·2H 2 O was recovered by a dissolution-precipitation method from spent LiFePO 4 batteries. The effects of different surfactants ( i.e. CTAB, SDS and PEG), which were added to the solution on the recovered FePO 4 ·2H 2 O, were investigated. Li 2 CO 3 was precipitated by adding Na 2 CO 3 to the filtrate. Then the LiFePO 4 /C material was synthesized by a carbon thermal reduction method using recycled FePO 4 ·2H 2 O and Li 2 CO 3 as the Fe, P, and Li sources. The as-prepared LiFePO 4 /C shows comparable electrochemical performance to that of commercial equivalents. A new process is optimized and presented for the recovery and regeneration of LiFePO 4 from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).