Direct recovery of high-purity lithium via nanofiltration membranes from leaching solution of spent lithium batteries

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling Vol. 210; p. 107846
• Main Authors: He, Shiweihua, Zuo, Qiuyang, Shi, Hui, Geng, Zhiwei, Liu, Congcong, Ding, Lin, Li, Xin, Shao, Penghui, Yang, Liming, Luo, Xubiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2024
• Subjects: High selective nanofiltration; Lithium recovery; Membrane separation; Spent ternary lithium batteries; Membrane separation; Spent ternary lithium batteries; High selective nanofiltration; Lithium recovery
• ISSN: 0921-3449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107846

•Polyamide membrane was first applied for lithium recovery from spent T-LIBs.•The high purity and recovery rate of lithium were achieved simultaneously.•The interlayer enhanced the Donnan effect for mono-/di-valent ions selectivity. The recycling of spent ternary lithium batteries (T-LIBs) promises scarce strategic resource recovery, however, efficient and selective recovery of Li+ from T-LIBs leaching solution with complex components is still a considerable challenge. Herein, we present a polyamide nanofiltration membrane based on the positively charged nanoscale dispersion interlayer for the first application in recycling lithium from the leaching solution of spent T-LIBs. The electronegativity is weakened by positive charge within the interlayer, which enhance the effect of Donnan exclusion. The pos-TFNi membrane can effectively permeate Li+ while the interfering divalent ions are almost completely separated, achieving the high purity (separation factor ≥ 93.5) and high recovery rate (79.2%) of Li+ from leaching solution simultaneously, with a 6.2-fold improvement in the separation factor over the pristine TFC membrane, and outperformed the majority of the NF membranes. This work represents a reference for the recycling of the massive accumulation of spent T-LIBs worldwide. [Display omitted]