Optimum Conditions of Dismantlement for Recovery of Valuables from Spent Lithium Primary Batteries

Dismantlement of lithium primary batteries without explosion is required to recycle the lithium primary batteries which could be exploded by heating too much or crushing. In the present study, the optimum discharging condition was investigated to dismantle the batteries without explosion. When the batteries were discharged with $0.5kmol{\cdot}m^{-3}$ sulfuric acid, the reactivity of the batteries decreased after 4 days at $35^{\circ}C$ and after 1 day at $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. This result shows that higher temperature removed the high reactivity of the batteries. Because loss of metals recycled increases when the batteries are discharged only with the sulfuric acid, discharging process using acid solution and water was newly proposed. When the batteries were discharged with water during 24 hours after discharging with $0.5kmol{\cdot}m^{-3}$ sulfuric acid during 6 hours, the batteries discharged were dismantled without explosion. Because decrease in loss of metals was accomplished by new process, the recycling process of the batteries could become economic by the 2-step discharging process.

폐일차리튬전지로부터 유가금속을 회수하기 위한 해체공정의 최적화

폐일차리튬전지는 열을 가하거나 파쇄하면 폭발할 수 있기 때문에 재활용을위해 비폭발 폐일차리튬전지의 해체공정이 요구된다. 이 연구에서는 비폭발 해체공정을 위한 최적 방전공정을 조사하였다. 폐일차리튬전지가 $0.5kmol{\cdot}m^{-3}$ 황산용액에서 방전되었을 때, 전지의 반응성은 $35^{\circ}C$에서는 4일 후, $50^{\circ}C$에서는 1일 후에 감소하였다. 황산용액을 사용했을 때 유가금속이 손실되기 때문에 황산용액과 물을 순차적으로 사용하는 방전공정이 제안되었다. $0.5kmol{\cdot}m^{-3}$ 황산용액에서 6시간 방전 후 물에서 24시간 동안 방전했을 때, 폭발없이 배터리의 해체가 가능하였다. 새로운 공정에서 금속 손실이 감소하였기 때문에, 새롭게 제안된 2단계 방전공정에 의해 경제적인 재활용 공정이 가능하였다.