Lithium slag leach solution refining by hydroxide precipitation

  • Jakub Klimko Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Recycling Technol-ogies
  • Zita Takacova Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Recycling Technol-ogies
  • Vladimir Marcinov Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Recycling Tech-nologies
  • Jana Piroskova Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Recycling Technologies
  • Tomas Vindt Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Recycling Technologies
  • Pavol Liptai Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Recycling Technologies
  • Dusan Orac Institute of Recycling Technologies, Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Technical University of Kosice
Keywords: lithium-ion battery; recycling; hydrometallurgy; leaching; precipitation; hydroxide; lithium hydroxide; lithium carbonate

Abstract


Lithium-ion batteries contain many of critically important metals and their effective recycling is key for the sustainable development of the EU. In the past, only metals such as Co, Ni, and Cu were recycled by pyrometallurgy, and Li and Al were concentrated in the slags and not further processed. Novel approach of a black mass pyrometallurgical treatment propose possibility of further hydrometallurgical recycling of slags. In this paper, refining of solution obtained by leaching of slag in sulfuric acid is studied. Leach solution most valuable element is Li, but in addition it also contains Al, Si, Co, Mn, Ni and Cu, which removal is essential before high purity Li recovery is possible. Refining is performed by pH adjustment by addition of NaOH, which confirm the possibility of 100% removal of Al, Mn, 93.56% removal of Si, 86.36% removal of Cu and 61.75% removal of Co. Results also confirmed that solution refining by the addition of NaOH is causing lithium losses from 10% at pH 7 to 28% at pH 12, therefore it is proposed to combine more solution refining methods before pure Li2CO3 with minimum losses is precipitated.

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Published
2023/12/28
How to Cite
Klimko, J., Takacova, Z., Marcinov, V., Piroskova, J., Vindt, T., Liptai, P., & Orac, D. (2023). Lithium slag leach solution refining by hydroxide precipitation. Journal of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Metallurgy, 59(3), 489-496. Retrieved from https://aseestant.ceon.rs/index.php/jmm/article/view/47435
Issue
Vol. 59 No. 3 (2023)
Section
Original Scientific Paper

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