Highly selective and green recovery of lithium ions from lithium iron phosphate powders with ozone

doi:10.1007/s11705-022-2261-0

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (6) : 749-758 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-022-2261-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Highly selective and green recovery of lithium ions from lithium iron phosphate powders with ozone

Ruiqi Li, Kang Li, Wei Wang, Fan Zhang, Shichao Tian, Zhongqi Ren(

), Zhiyong Zhou(

)

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China

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Abstract

Since lithium iron phosphate cathode material does not contain high-value metals other than lithium, it is therefore necessary to strike a balance between recovery efficiency and economic benefits in the recycling of waste lithium iron phosphate cathode materials. Here, we describe a selective recovery process that can achieve economically efficient recovery and an acceptable lithium leaching yield. Adjusting the acid concentration and amount of oxidant enables selective recovery of lithium ions. Iron is retained in the leaching residue as iron phosphate, which is easy to recycle. The effects of factors such as acid concentration, acid dosage, amount of oxidant, and reaction temperature on the leaching of lithium and iron are comprehensively explored, and the mechanism of selective leaching is clarified. This process greatly reduces the cost of processing equipment and chemicals. This increases the potential industrial use of this process and enables the green and efficient recycling of waste lithium iron phosphate cathode materials in the future.

Keywords lithium iron phosphate powder stoichiometric number selective leaching lithium recovery

Corresponding Author(s): Zhongqi Ren,Zhiyong Zhou

Online First Date: 06 March 2023 Issue Date: 17 May 2023

Cite this article:

Ruiqi Li,Kang Li,Wei Wang, et al. Highly selective and green recovery of lithium ions from lithium iron phosphate powders with ozone[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2023, 17(6): 749-758.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-022-2261-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2023/V17/I6/749

Tab.1 Reported selective recoveries in recycling of LFP cathode materials

Fig.1 Effects of concentration and total amount of HCl on leaching yields of (a) Li and (b) Fe ions.

Fig.2 Effect of ozone concentration on leaching yields of (a) Li and (b) Fe ions.

Fig.3 Effect of ozone penetration rate on leaching yields of (a) Li and (b) Fe ions.

Fig.4 Effect of temperature on leaching yields of (a) Li and (b) Fe ions.

Fig.5 Effect of different experimental conditions on leaching yields of (a) Li and (b) Fe ions.

Tab.2 Solubilities of LFP and FePO₄ in HCl of different concentrations at 20 °C

Fig.6 Amounts of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in solution at different times during leaching process.

Fig.7 E-pH diagram of the Li?Fe?P?H₂O system and the relationship between the electrode potential of redox couples and pH (25 °C).

Fig.8 XRD analyses of various solids.

Fig.9 Proposed lithium recovery process of LFP cathode materials.

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