González, Y.C.; Alcaraz, L.; Alguacil, F.J.; González, J.; Barbosa, L.; López, F.A. Study of the Carbochlorination Process with CaCl2 and Water Leaching for the Extraction of Lithium from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries. Batteries2023, 9, 12.
González, Y.C.; Alcaraz, L.; Alguacil, F.J.; González, J.; Barbosa, L.; López, F.A. Study of the Carbochlorination Process with CaCl2 and Water Leaching for the Extraction of Lithium from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries. Batteries 2023, 9, 12.
González, Y.C.; Alcaraz, L.; Alguacil, F.J.; González, J.; Barbosa, L.; López, F.A. Study of the Carbochlorination Process with CaCl2 and Water Leaching for the Extraction of Lithium from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries. Batteries2023, 9, 12.
González, Y.C.; Alcaraz, L.; Alguacil, F.J.; González, J.; Barbosa, L.; López, F.A. Study of the Carbochlorination Process with CaCl2 and Water Leaching for the Extraction of Lithium from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries. Batteries 2023, 9, 12.
Abstract
The abundant use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in a wide variety of electric devices and vehicles will generate a large number of depleted batteries, which contain several valuable metals such as Li, Co, Mn, and Ni present in the structure of the cathode material (LiMO2). The present work investigates chemical, technological, and environmental aspects in the treatment of such wastes, development of a methodology for the extraction of lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite by a carbochlorination pyrometallurgical process. Mixtures of cathode and anode materials (called black mass, mixed oxides of Li, Co, Ni, Mn, and graphite) from different LIBs, carbon black (as reducing agent), and CaCl2 (as chlorinating agent) were used. Non-isothermal thermogravimetric tests up to 850°C and isothermal tests at 700°C of the mixtures in an inert atmosphere were carried out. It was experimentally observed that the LiMO2-C-CaCl2 reaction takes place at 700°C. LiCl, Ni, and Co were obtained as final products, and to a lesser extent, CoO, NiO, and MnO2. CaCO3 was also obtained as a by-product. The obtained results show that carbochlorination is an efficient and effective alternative route for the extraction and recovery of metals from different LIBs, focused on the sustainability and circular economy
Chemistry and Materials Science, Applied Chemistry
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