A Study on the Recovery of Li2CO3 from Cathode Active Material NCM(LiNiCoMnO2) of Spent Lithium Ion Batteries

In this study, an experiment is performed to recover the Li in $Li_2CO_3$ phase from the cathode active material NMC ($LiNiCoMnO_2$) in waste lithium ion batteries. Firstly, carbonation is performed to convert the LiNiO, LiCoO, and $Li_2MnO_3$ phases within the powder to $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO. The carbonation for phase separation proceeds at a temperature range of $600^{\circ}C{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ in a $CO_2$ gas (300 cc/min) atmosphere. At $600{\sim}700^{\circ}C$, $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO are not completely separated, while Li and other metallic compounds remain. At $800^{\circ}C$, we can confirm that LiNiO, LiCoO, and $Li_2MnO_3$ phases are separated into $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO phases. After completing the phase separation, by using the solubility difference of $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO, we set the ratio of solution (distilled water) to powder after carbonation as 30:1. Subsequently, water leaching is carried out. Then, the $Li_2CO_3$ within the solution melts and concentrates, while NiO, MnO, and CoO phases remain after filtering. Thus, $Li_2CO_3$ can be recovered.