Recovering lithium waste from batteries after their useful life has ended, is a challenge. This is not the case with our lead-acid batteries though, which use completely different chemistry. Unlike recovering the lead, which is simple and cheap, recycling lithium-based batteries is time-consuming and expensive. Scientists at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, report an effective commercially-viable way to achieve this.
Recovering Lithium Waste Using Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is a branch of science that studies relationships between natural spontaneous chemical reactions, and electrical energy. One special branch of this science uses electricity to drive non-spontaneous chemical reactions.
The scientists at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, developed a novel way of recovering lithium waste from batteries, using electricity. They have tested their method on popular batteries containing lithium, and report this method is economically viable.
This new approach could thus help resolve lithium supply chain costs, and disruption too. It could also simplify operations, minimize costs, and increase the sustainability and attractiveness of commercial lithium recovery.
A Practical Method for Recycling Lithium
“The main challenge is the presence of other metals in lithium recovery streams,” explains research leader Xiao Su, “This is particularly true of organic leachates, which are a common way of dissolving spent batteries for recycling.
“To overcome these challenges, we’ve introduced a copolymer that captures lithium selectively. And directly from organic solvents as well, which we can regenerate electrochemically.”
This is not just dry theory in a laboratory setting this time. The University of Illinois team have dismantled lithium-based batteries in their workshop, and physically leached out the various metals forming an organic solvent.
Then they move the solvent into an electro-chemical cell, with an electrode coated with their special copolymer, This specifically captures lithium ions from the mixture, much like a sponge soaks up water. Job well done!
More Information
Recovering Lithium-Ion Battery Materials
Types of Lithium-Ion Batteries to Know
Preview Image: Recovering Lithium From Batteries
