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Green lithium extraction and recovery using a task-specific deep eutectic solvent
Julalak Jirattisak1, Apichat Imyim1, Nakara Bhawawet2
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
A new hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES) efficiently extracts over 99% of lithium from spent batteries. This sustainable method uses dibenzoylmethane (DBM) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) for greener lithium recovery.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Green Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Growing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) increases waste and depletes lithium resources.
- Traditional recycling methods use toxic solvents, necessitating sustainable alternatives.
- Developing efficient and eco-friendly lithium extraction is crucial for resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, task-specific deep eutectic solvent (DES) for selective lithium extraction from spent LIBs.
- To evaluate the efficiency and reusability of the DBM/TOPO-DES system.
- To demonstrate a greener alternative to conventional solvent extraction methods.
Main Methods:
- A hydrophobic DES was synthesized using dibenzoylmethane (DBM) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in a 1:1 molar ratio.
- Liquid-liquid extraction was performed under optimized conditions (pH 12, 30s vortexing, room temperature, 2:1 aqueous-to-DES ratio).
- EDTA was used as a masking agent to ensure selective lithium extraction in the presence of Co(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II).
Main Results:
- The DBM/TOPO-DES achieved over 99% lithium extraction efficiency.
- High selectivity for lithium was observed even with common co-existing metal ions.
- The DES demonstrated excellent reusability over five extraction cycles with efficient back-extraction using 0.7 M HCl.
Conclusions:
- The DBM/TOPO-DES offers a sustainable, efficient, and rapid method for lithium recovery from spent LIBs.
- This hydrophobic DES system minimizes miscibility with aqueous solutions, enhancing extraction performance.
- The study advances green chemistry principles for critical resource recovery from battery waste.
