A Process for Metal Enrichment from End-of-Life Lithium Ion Batteries
ID:392 View Protection:ATTENDEE Updated Time:2022-05-12 20:19:41 Hits:803 Invited speech

Start Time:2022-05-27 08:00(Asia/Shanghai)

Duration:20min

Session:S4 Energy Science and Technology » S4-2Energy Science and Technology-2

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Abstract
Designing an eco-friendly and cost-effective process that is ready for commercial implement prior to the time frame of 2025-2030 is urgent for recovering valuable materials, e.g., Li, Co, Ni, etc., from the end-of-life lithium-ion (EoL Li-ion) batteries aiming waste treatment and reduce CO2 emission from metal extraction from ore. This is because (1) by coupling with Li-ion battery energy storage, power-generation utilities are entering into achieving carbon neutral (e.g. net zero) electricity production with expanded renewable power generation; and (2) 2.1 million EVs have been sold globally in 2019 with the total stock of 7.2 million EVs, and the year-to-year increase in EV registration is approximately 40%.[1. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020] Under such a scenario, by assuming that the average lifespan of the Li-ion batteries is 8-10 years, it is expected that, by 2030, recycling of approximately 200 kilotons of EOL Li-ion batteries globally will be necessary to sustain economic growth and protect environment.[2. https://spectrum.ieee.org/lithiumion-battery-recycling-finally-takes-off-in-north-america-and-europe]
To address this urgency, a thermal-conversion process assisted by H2 has been invented and developed at University of Kentucky (UK) by utilizing a H2-fueled reactor to effectively recover the metal elements/alloys from the EOL Li-ion battery followed by separating the individual species in a continuously stirred reactor. Such a process offers the significant advantage versus the existing technologies, which is no in need of strong acids and reducing agents in the process. Using LiCoO2 as an example is sketched in Figure 1. LiCoO2 powders are reduced in a H2-fueled fluidized bed reactor at an elevated temperature. The product is a solid mixture of Li2O and Co. Since Li2O is highly soluble in H2O and Co is magnetic at room temperature, a continuously stirred reactor is subsequently used to separate the elemental Co solids from the Li(OH)-concentrated brine.
In this meeting, UK will present (1) the metal recovery results using a bench-scale process, (2) improving the process performance by altering the operating parameters, e.g., gas flow rate, temperature, etc., and (3) disclosing the underlying mechanisms for decomposing lithium oxides under reducing environments.
Keywords
Speaker
Xin GAO
University of Kentucky

Xin Gao is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kentucky and works with Prof. Kunlei Liu from the Power Generation Group of UK CAER. He enjoys developing novel processes for energy production/storage and environmental applications
from his understandings of thermal science, process engineering, and physical electrochemistry. He was the UK OTC SBIR prize winner with Powertech Water in 2018 and 2019 by inventing and commercializing the i-CDI desalination process. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from the University of Limerick in Ireland in 2012, where he learned surface science, electrochemical engineering, battery energy storage, and spectroscopic techniques from Prof. D. Noel Buckley. In his leisure time, he watches UK sports, plays soccer, and he is a fan of Liverpool soccer team.
 

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Important Date
  • Conference Date

    May 26

    2022

    to

    May 27

    2022

  • May 03 2022

    Draft paper submission deadline

  • May 26 2022

    Contribution Submission Deadline

  • May 28 2022

    Registration deadline

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