This technology involves mixing shredded waste lithium-ion batteries with sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and a carbon reducing agent, then roasting them in a reducing atmosphere. This process reduces transition metal oxides to their metallic state and converts lithium into water-soluble sulfate, allowing for the separation of lithium from nickel, cobalt, and manganese residues through water leaching.
Conventional hydrometallurgical processes are complex and time-consuming, requiring large amounts of sulfuric acid and continuous input of reducing agents. Furthermore, they are limited by low recovery rates of valuable metals.
This technology mixes shredded waste lithium-ion batteries with sulfate at a mass ratio of 1:11.7, along with a carbon reducing agent, and roasts the mixture at 700°C. This converts lithium into a water-soluble form and reduces nickel, cobalt, and manganese into magnetic metal residues, enabling magnetic separation. Applicable to EV battery recycling plants, black mass refining processes, and lithium salt recovery facilities, it significantly reduces sulfuric acid consumption and allows for the separation of lithium and transition metals in a single water leaching step.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Education's Capstone Design program.
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