• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.58-64
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• 2012

A study on the solvent extraction for the separation and recovery of Ni and Li from the leaching solution of active cathode materials of Li-ion batteries was investigated using PC88A(2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester). The experimental parameters, such as the pH of the solution, concentration of extractant and phase ratio were observed. Experimental results showed that the extraction percent of Ni and Li and separation factor of Ni/Li were increased with increasing the equilibrium pH. More than 99.4% of Ni and 28.7% of Li were extracted in eq. pH 8.5 by 25% PC88A and the separation factor of Ni/Li was 411.6. From the analysis of McCabe-Thiele diagram, 99% of Ni was extracted by three extraction stages at phase ratio(A/O) of 1.5. Stripping of Ni and Li from the loaded organic phases can be accomplished by sulfuric acid as a stripping reagent and 50-60g/L of $H_2SO_4$ was effective for the stripping of Ni.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.60-67
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• 2019

A valuable metal recovery from waste resources such as spent rechargeable secondary batteries is of critical issues because of a sharp increase in the amount of waste resources. In this context, it is necessary to research not only recycling waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but also reusing valuable metals (e.g., Li, Co, Ni, Mn etc.) recovered from waste LIBs. In particular, the lithium hydroxide ($LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$), which is of precursors that can be prepared by the recovery of Li in waste LIBs, can be reused as a catalyst, a carbon dioxide absorbent, and again as a precursor for cathode materials of LIB. However, most studies of recycling the waste LIBs have been focused on the preparation of lithium carbonate with a recovery of Li. Herein, we show the preparation of high purity lithium hydroxide powder along with the precipitation process, and the systematic study to find an optimum condition is also carried out. The lithium carbonate, which is recovered from waste LIBs, was used as starting materials for synthesis of lithium hydroxide. The optimum precipitation conditions for the preparation of LiOH were found as follows: based on stirring, reaction temperature $90^{\circ}C$, reaction time 3 hr, precursor ratio 1:1. To synthesize uniform and high purity lithium hydroxide, 2-step precipitation process was additionally performed, and consequently, high purity $LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$ powder was obtained.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2021

Leaching experiments from single metal and metallic mixtures were conducted to develop a process for the recovery of cobalt, copper, and nickel in spent lithium ion batteries. Inorganic and organic acid solutions without oxidizing agents were employed. No copper was dissolved in the absence of an oxidizing agent in the leaching solutions. The leaching condition to completely dissolve single metal of cobalt and nickel was determined based on acid concentration, reaction temperature and time, and pulp density. The leaching condition to dissolve all of cobalt and nickel from the metallic mixtures was also obtained. Leaching of the metallic mixture with methanesulfonic acid led to selective dissolution of cobalt at low temperatures.