High-Selectivity Recycling of Valuable Metals from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Recyclable Deep Eutectic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry
• Hydrometallurgy

Background:

• Spent lithium-ion batteries pose environmental and economic challenges.
• Efficient recovery of valuable metals is crucial for sustainable resource management.
• Current recycling methods often involve harsh chemicals or high energy consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an environmentally friendly and economically viable method for recovering valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries.
• To utilize deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for efficient metal dissolution and separation.
• To achieve high yields and enable solvent regeneration for a circular economy approach.

Main Methods:

• A novel DES composed of tetrabutylammonium chloride and monochloroacetic acid was employed.
• Oxalic acid was used as a reducing agent for complete dissolution of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn.
• Selective precipitation of metals was achieved using oxalic acid and aqueous solutions.

Main Results:

• Complete dissolution of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese was achieved under mild conditions.
• Selective precipitation allowed for the recovery of lithium and nickel, followed by cobalt and manganese.
• The deep eutectic solvent was successfully regenerated by water evaporation, enabling recycling.
• A 100% yield for valuable metal recovery was demonstrated through the DES recycling process.

Conclusions:

• The developed DES-based process offers an efficient, environmentally friendly, and recyclable route for spent lithium-ion battery recycling.
• This method provides a sustainable solution for recovering valuable metals, contributing to resource circularity.
• The high yield and solvent recoverability make this process suitable for industrial application in battery recycling.