SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE RECYCLING OF LITHIUM FROM BATTERY WASTE

• Main Authors: YANG, Tairan, YOUNG, David, ZHENG, Panni, LI, Zheng
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.09.2024
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS OF ALKALI METALS, i.e. LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM,RUBIDIUM, CAESIUM, OR FRANCIUM; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; ELECTRICITY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; SEPARATION; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of spent lithium battery material. In some aspects, a method can include suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, forming an extracted lithium solution, separating the extracted lithium solution from residual solids of a lithium source, purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities, and precipitating the lithium in the purified lithium solution to generate lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). In some embodiments, the method can further include preprocessing the lithium source to improve kinetics of the lithium extraction. In some embodiments, the preprocessing can include a cutting or shredding step to downsize the lithium source. In some embodiments, the lithium source can include lithium-ion battery waste. In some embodiments, the oxidation reagent can include sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8), potassium persulfate (K2S2O8), ammonium persulfate (NH4)2S2O8, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ozone (O3), and/or nitrous oxide (N2O).