Treatment of valuable metals from leaching solution of spent lithium-ion batteries

The process of recovering metals from spent lithium-ion batteries is difficult due to the complexity of the metal components. Therefore, the separation and extraction of metal ions from the leaching solution of spent lithiumion batteries requires a set of hydrometallurgical processes. In this research, precipitation and solvent extraction processes have been used to the final recovery of metals. Initially, by applying potassium permanganate with molar ratio of manganese ions to potassium permanganate: 2 and pH: 2, 96.5% of manganese ions were precipitated and separated from the leaching solution. Then, via dimethylglyoxime in molar ratio of nickel ions to dimethylglyoxime: 0.5, and pH: 5, 96% nickel recovered, approximately. Subsequently, using 30 v/v% D2EHPA and 5 v/v% TBP respectively as an extractant and a modifier of the organic phase, and under optimal conditions of Vo/Va: 1, pH: 5, temperature 25 degrees C, time 20 min and mixing speed 400 rpm, it is possible to achieve 93.38% cobalt extraction efficiency and also control the loss of lithium at 16.74%. Finally, in the molar ratio of lithium ions to sodium carbonate: 0.7, temperature 100 degrees C, time 40 min, mixing speed 400 rpm and the pH: 12, the lithium precipitation efficiency reached to 98.84%.

Automated summary

The research focuses on the recovery of metal components from spent lithium-ion batteries using precipitation and solvent extraction processes, achieving efficient separation and extraction of metal ions.