• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.25-31
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• 2021

Smelting reduction of spent lithium-ion batteries results in the production of metallic alloys in which reduced cobalt, nickel and copper coexist. In this study, we investigated the leaching of the metallic alloys containing the above three metals together with iron, manganese, and silicon. The mixture of hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent was employed, and the effect of the concentration thereof, the reaction time and temperature, and pulp density was investigated to accomplish the complete leaching of cobalt, nickel, and copper. The effect of the hydrogen peroxide concentration and pulp density on the leaching was prominent, compared to that of reaction time and temperature, especially in the range of 20 to 80℃. The complete leaching of the metals present in metallic alloys, except silicon, was accomplished using 2 M HCl and 5% H₂O₂ with a pulp density of 30 g/L for 150 min at 60℃.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.59-66
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• 2022

To investigate the rate-determining step of nickel, cobalt and copper electrowinning, experiments were conducted by varying the electrolyte temperature and agitation speed using a rotating disc electrode. Analyzing the rate-determining step by calculating the activation energy in the electrowinning process, it was found that nickel electrowinning is controlled by a mixed mechanism (partly by chemical reaction and partly by mass transport), cobalt is controlled by chemical reaction, and copper is controlled by mass transfer. Electrowinning of nickel, cobalt and copper was performed by varying the electrolyte temperature and agitation speed, and the comparison of the current efficiencies was used the determine the rate-determining step.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.73-80
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• 2022

Reduction smelting of spent lithium-ion batteries at high temperature produces metallic alloys. Following solvent extraction of the leaching solutions of these metallic alloys with either sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, the raffinate is found to contain Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Si(IV). In this study, two cationic exchange resins (Diphonix and P204) were employed to investigate the loading behavior of these ions from synthetic sulfate and chloride solutions. Experimental results showed that Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) could be selectively loaded onto the Diphonix resin from a sulfate solution of pH 3.0. With a chloride solution of pH 6.0, Mn(II) was selectively loaded onto the P204 resin, leaving Ni(II) and Si(IV) in the effluent. Elution experiments with H₂SO₄ and/or HCl resulted in the complete recovery of metal ions from the loaded resin.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2018

The rapid increase in the consumption of products that contain rare metals has highlighted the importance of recycling and recovering resources from these products when they enter the waste stream. Among various metal resources that can be recovered, this study analyzes the waste streams of cobalt and palladium to determine how their waste resource circulation can be improved at each stage of the waste stream. The findings of this study point to improvements and strategies that can be made at individual stages. First, at the discharge/import stage, the implementation of tariff quotas for specific recycled metal resources is suggested to allow the systemic categorization of waste metals as resources. At the collection/discarding stage, a major problem is the instability in the supply of scrap metals, which may be better managed by changing the bidding process for the scrap metals. At the pretreatment stage, possible areas for improvement are uncovered concerning technical areas, such as technological development and improving the efficiency of material recycling, as well as policy-wise, for instance, expanding the regulation for manufacturers to produce products that are designed to facilitate resource recovery, increasing incentive for closed recycling, and refining the guidelines and standards for recycling. At the resource recovery stage, as the waste metal recycling industry consists of businesses that vary in size, policies to promote cooperation and coexistence between large and smaller enterprises will benefit the industry in the long-run. Lastly, at the product production/export stage, a tariff on exporting waste resources that contain cobalt and palladium will help control the amount of waste metals that are shipped abroad.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.440-445
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• 2019

It has developed a method that can recover efficiently the reproducible resources from the vehicle waste lithium second battery module. Module cell consists of copper thin film, aluminum thin film and diaphragm made with polymer between these thin films. Cell was disassembled completely without any damage in glove box and through several steps. Preferentially, cathode active material was separated from aluminum thin film at heat treatment of 400 ℃. The retrieved cathode active material was then obtained as high purity after calcining at 800 ℃ to remove residual carbon. Based on this study, it was found that rare metals such as Co, Ni, Mn and Li made up of cathode active material could recover above 80% from aluminum thin film.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2020

Korea, one of the manufacturing-oriented countries, consumes a large amount of metals in various industrial areas, but should depend on import of most of the metals from foreign countries. Also, global metal consumption amounts are increasing in relation to those of the world's reserve and production. Some metals are limitedly produced from only several centuries, which might lead to instability of the future supply of those metals. In addition, when such metals are hazardous, those may result in various environmental troubles with contamination. To resolve those issues, the recovery and the recycling of hazardous but valuable metals in industrial waste are desirable. However, there are overwhelming numbers of the metal types, waste generators, and amounts of wastes containing the metals, so it can be troublesome even to implement a preliminary status analysis to screen proper metals, wastes with the metals, and waste producers. Therefore, this study introduces the valuable metals for Korean industry, announced by public institutions, Also, a flow chart is suggested to facilitate a preliminary status analysis, using the domestic PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) database, to screen proper waste producers containing some of hazardous but valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.43-49
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• 2013

A study on the recovery of lithium and leaching behavior of NCM powder by hydrogen reduction for NCM system Li-ion battery scraps was investigated. The reductive rate was about 93% at $800^{\circ}C$ by hydrogen treatment. The lithium carbonate with 99% purity was manufactured by using $CO_2$ gas and washing method with water for NCM powder after hydrogen reduction. As a result of comparing the powders before and after the hydrogen reduction treatment for acid leaching behavior we obtained 32% enhanced leaching rate of cobalt, 45% enhanced leaching rate of nickel and the 90% leaching effect for manganese by hydrogen reduction at 2M $H_2SO_4$ concentration condition.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.62-69
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• 2013

A study on the recovery of lithium and leaching behavior of NCM powder by carbon reduction for NCM-system Li-ion battery scraps was conducted. First of all, the oxide powders of NCM-system with layer structure were decomposed by carbon, lithium was converted to lithium carbonate by carbon reaction at above $600^{\circ}C$. The lithium carbonate powders with 99% purity were manufactured by washing method with water and concentration process for NCM powder after carbon reduction. The reaction yield was approximately 88% at $800^{\circ}C$ by carbon reduction. At this time, leaching efficiency at 2M sulfuric acid concentration was over 99% for cobalt, nickel and manganese.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2021

Lithium carbonate recovered from the waste solution generated during the lithium secondary battery manufacturing process contains heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese. In this study, the recrystallization of lithium carbonate was performed to remove heavy metals contained in the powder and to increase the purity of lithium carbonate. First, the leaching efficiency of lithium carbonate according to pH in the aqueous hydrochloric acid solution was examined, and the effect on the recrystallization of lithium carbonate according to the equivalent and concentration of sodium carbonate was confirmed. As the equivalent and concentration of sodium carbonate increased, the recovery rate of lithium carbonate improved. And the SEM image showed that the crystal shape was changed depending on the reaction conditions with sodium carbonate. Finally, the high purity lithium carbonate of 99.9% or more was recovered by washing with water.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

The rapid expansion of the electric vehicle market has led to increased demand for battery recycling technologies. The recycling of spent batteries is crucial to stabilize the supply of rare metals, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are essential components for the battery industry. In addition, the technology for recycling spent batteries can help to reduce environmental and health impacts. This review presents the theoretical principles behind the metal recovery technology and the processes that are currently commercially available. It also describes trends in research and technological developments that aim to improve existing processes, and provides an overview of where recycling technology is headed.