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A Citric Acid/Na2S2O3 System for the Efficient Leaching of Valuable Metals from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries

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Abstract

Recycling of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) appears inevitable for both environmental protection and resource recovery. In the present study, an efficient hydrometallurgical leaching of Co and Li from cathode materials of spent LIBs using a citric acid/sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) system is explored. The effects of citric acid and Na2S2O3 concentrations, leaching time, temperature, and the solid/liquid (S/L) ratio on the leaching processes are also examined. With the exception of the S/L ratio, the increase of citric acid concentration, Na2S2O3 concentration, leaching time, and temperature all have positive effects on the leaching of Co and Li. Ultimately, approximately 96% of Co and 99% of Li are recycled from the spent LIBs in this citric acid/sodium thiosulfate system under the leaching conditions of an S/L ratio of 20 g l−1, concentration of Na2S2O3 of 0.3 M, concentration of citric acid of 1.2 M, leaching time of 30 min, and leaching temperature of 70°C. The Avrami equation is well fitted by the data of the leaching processes, and model equations are built to describe the leaching of Co and Li. Furthermore, pure sulfur can be obtained as a by-product during the leaching process, and SO2 produced during the reaction is easily collected as a raw material for industrial production of sulfuric acid. The present study represents a promising process for hydrometallurgical recovery of valuable metals from spent LIBs.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Gaoyuan Discipline of Shanghai–Environmental Science and Engineering (Resource Recycling Science and Engineering), Shanghai “Chenguang” Program (15CG60), Shanghai Sailing Program (18YF1429900, 15YF1404300), Shanghai Natural Science Foundation (15ZR1416800), Natural Science Foundation of China (51678353), Cultivation discipline fund of Shanghai Polytechnic University (XXKPY1601), Shanghai Polytechnic University Leap Program (EGD19XQD02, EGD18XQD24), and Henan Key Laboratory of Coal Green Conversion (Henan Polytechnic University, CGCF201803).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Guilan Gao & Zheng Jiao

  2. Research Center of Resource Recycling Science and Engineering, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China

    Guilan Gao, Yaoguang Guo, Shuai Chen, Jie Guan & Hao Yuan

  3. School of Environmental and Materials Engineering, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China

    Xin He, Yaoguang Guo, Shuai Chen, Xingmin Luo, Suyang Sun, Jie Guan & Hao Yuan

  4. Henan Key Laboratory of Coal Green Conversion, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China

    Shuai Chen

  5. Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Environmental Protection Service Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China

    Xin He

  6. Key Laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, 200090, China

    Xiaoyi Lou

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  1. Guilan Gao
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  2. Xin He
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  3. Xiaoyi Lou
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Correspondence to Zheng Jiao, Yaoguang Guo or Shuai Chen.

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Gao, G., He, X., Lou, X. et al. A Citric Acid/Na2S2O3 System for the Efficient Leaching of Valuable Metals from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries. JOM 71, 3673–3681 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-019-03629-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-019-03629-y

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