(50c) Application of Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM) Technology In Recycling of Li+ From Battery Scrap Leachate

In the last years the usage of Lithium Ion Batteries (LIB) has notably increased. LIB are used as power sources in cell phones, laptops, video cameras etc. As a consequence the demand for recycling processes for the valuable components of spent Lithium ion batteries, such as Cobalt, Copper, Nickel, Lithium etc. is highly desirable. Battery Scrap from Lithium Ion Batteries is treated by acid or alkaline leaching to get the target constituents dissolved. Leaching solutions typically contain Co²⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Li⁺ ions. Supported Liquid Membrane Technology may serve as unit operation for selectively separating the constituents. .

The aim of this work was to develop complete recycling processes for Lithium recycling from aqueous solutions by implementation of Supported Liquid Membrane Technology (SLMT).

Pertraction of Cobalt, Copper, Aluminum and Lithium through the Ion Exchangers DEHPA and LIX 54 was investigated in order to evaluate whether selective separation of the constituents Cobalt, Copper and Aluminum from Li⁺ by SLMT is feasible.

Microporous Polyethylene membranes with a thickness of 2 mm and a pore size distribution of 7-12 µm served as membrane supports. The pertraction experiments were conducted in a lab scale unit, providing two chambers for the aqueous donor and acceptor solutions, separated by the porous membrane support containing the extractants. Different flux of the metal ions of copper and cobalt into the acceptor solution was applied as selectivity criterion, leaving Li⁺ finally in the raffinate phase for further processing.