The Comparison of Lithium Carbonate Recovered from Single Type and Unknown Mixed Type of Lithium-Ion Batteries through a Simple Way Carbonated Water Leaching

Abstract

Lithium is a rare earth element, but it is important in LIB manufacturing. Spent LIBs is a potential source of lithium. The research aim was to recover lithium from spent LiNCA and mixed LIBthrough selective leaching using carbonated water. The spent cathode and anode were separated by dismantling and dissolving using NaOH and hot water. The spent cathode was reduced by mixing with 20% spent anode and heating at temperature of 650 oC for 6 hours. The reduced cathodes of 25 g were mixed with 250 ml of water and flowed by 2 L/minute of CO2 gas for 150 minutes at ambient temperature. The residue was separated from filtrate. The reduced cathode and residue were examined by XRD and FTIR, while filtrate was heated for evaporating solvent to obtain precipitated Li2CO3. Theprecipitated Li2CO3 was 0,151 g/g of LiNCA and 0,034 g/g of mixed spent cathode. The characteristicsof Li2CO3 recovered from spent LiNCA closed to pure Li2CO3 even above the commercial Li2CO3 and met the requirements as an active precursor material for manufacturing LIB cathodes. Meanwhile Li2CO3 recovered from spent mixed cathode had some impurities and was needed further purification process.