• 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.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to recover valuable metals from spent batteries using a dry process. We focused on the effect of the smelting temperature on the composition of recovered solid and liquid products and collected gaseous products. After removal of the cover, the spent battery was left in NaCl solution and discharged. Then, the spent battery was made into a powder form through a crushing process. The smelting of the spent battery was performed in a tubular electric furnace in an oxygen atmosphere. For spent lithium-ion batteries, the recovery yield of the solid product was 80.1 wt% at a reaction temperature of 850 ℃, and the final product had 27.2 wt% of cobalt as well as other metals such as lithium, copper, and aluminum. Spent nickel-hydrogen batteries had a recovery yield of 99.2 wt% at a reaction temperature of 850 ℃ with about 37.6 wt% of nickel and other metals including iron. For spent nickel-cadmium batteries, the yield decreased to 65.4 wt% because of evaporation with increasing temperature. At 1050 ℃, the recovered metals were nickel (41 wt%) and cadmium (12.9 wt%). Benzene and toluene, which were not detected with the other secondary waste batteries, were detected in the gaseous product. The results of this study can be used as basic data for future research on the dry recycling process of spent secondary batteries.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2022

In waste lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the cathode material contains approximately 4% lithium. Recycling the constituent elements of batteries is important for resource circulation and for mitigating the environmental pollution. Li contained in the waste LFP cathode powder was selectively leached using persulfate-based oxidizing agents, such as sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and ammonium persulfate. Leaching efficiency and waste LFP powder properties were compared and analyzed. Pulp density was used as a variable during leaching, which was performed for 3 h under each condition. The leaching efficiency was calculated using the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis of the leachate. All types of persulfate-based oxidizing agents used in this study showed a Li leaching efficiency over 92%. In particular, when leaching was performed using (NH₄)₂S₂O₈, the highest Li leaching percentage of 93.3% was observed, under the conditions of 50 g/L pulp density and an oxidizing agent concentration of 1.1 molar ratio.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2023

The recovery of valuable metals from waste lithium-based secondary batteries is very important in terms of efficiently utilizing earth's limited number of resources. Currently, the cathode material of a LiFePO₄ battery, a type of battery which is widely used in automobiles, contains approximately 5% lithium. After use, the lithium in these batteries can be used again as a raw material for new batteries through lithium recycling. In this study, low-concentration sulfuric acid, a commonly used type of inorganic acid, was used to selectively leach the lithium contained in a waste LiFePO₄ cathode material powder. In addition, in order to compare and analyze the leaching efficiency and separation efficiency of each component, the optimalleaching conditions were derived by applying a two-step leaching process with pulp density being used as a variable during leaching. When leaching with pulp density as a variable, it was confirmed that at a pulp density of 200 g/L, the separation efficiency was approximately 200 times higher than at other pulp densities because the iron and phosphorus components were hardly leached at this pulp density. Accordingly, the pulp density of 200 g/L was used tooptimize the leaching conditions for the selective leaching and recovery of lithium.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.151-155
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• 2022

In this paper, we analyze the current research technology trends through the literature reviews of technical outlines of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, domestic and overseas policy trends, etc. After analyzing the literature, we found out while the re-use and recycling of waste batteries and the in-wheel motor systems are essential areas for the development of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the related research is not quite sufficient, so the direction for further research is proposed at the conclusion.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.26-33
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• 2022

Owing to the demand for lithium-ion batteries, the recovery of valuable metals from waste lithium-ion batteries is required in future. A pyrometallurgical treatment is appropriate for recycling a large number of waste lithium-ion batteries, but Li loss to slag and dust present a significant challenge. This research investigated carbonation roasting and water leaching behaviors in Li-ion batteries by graphite addition to recover Li from the NCM-based cathode materials of waste Li-ion batteries. When 10 wt% of graphite was added, CO and CO₂ gases were emitted with a rapid weight reduction at apporoximately 850 K, when heated in Ar and CO₂ atmosphere. After the rapid weight reduction, NCM was decomposed and reduced to metal oxides and pure metals. In the carbonation roasting of black powder (NCM+graphite), O₂ is generated via the decomposition of NCM, and an oxides, such as Li₂O and NiO were were also generated. Subsequently, Li₂O reacts with CO₂ to generate Li₂CO₃, and a part of NiO was reduced by graphite to produce metal Ni. In addition, up to 94.5 % Li₂CO₃ with ~99.95 % purity was recovered via water leaching after carbonation roasting.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.18-25
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• 2019

In order to recover the cerium contained in the spent nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH battery), the recovered rare earth complex precipitates from NIMH were converted into rare earth hydroxides through ion exchange reaction to react with NaOH aqueous solution at a reaction temperature of 70 ℃, for 4 hours. Rare earth hydroxides were oxidized by injecting air at 80 ℃ for 4 hours to oxidize Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺. The oxidation rate of cerium was confirmed to be about 25 % through XPS, and the oxidized powder was separated from the rest of the rare earth using the difference in solubility in dilute sulfuric acid. The finally recovered powder has a crystal phase of cerium hydroxide (Ce(OH)₄). The cerium purity of the final product was about 94.6 %, and the recovery rate was 97.3 %.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.25-30
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• 2003

The synthesis of SiC used for the parts of the gas turbine and the heat exchanger, was carried out. In this study, wire cutting slurry of silicon wafer and the graphite rod of spent zinc-carbon battery were applied to the starting materials for the synthesis. The powders of Si or Si+SiC were obtained from the waste material by filtration, gravity separation and magnetic separation. Graphite powder was produced by dismantling, grinding and gravity separation from spent zinc-carbon battery. The synthesis of SiC could be completed from the mixture powders of Si and C or Si+SiC and C at the condition of equivalent ratio of Si and C, atmosphere of Ar or vacuum, temperature of above 1$600^{\circ}C$ and 2 hours reactions. The purity of synthesized Si-C was above 99%.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.547-552
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• 2022

In this study, we secured a technology for manufacturing expanded glass of uniform quality by using general tempered glass, that is, window glass, among automotive glass that is scrapped, and verified whether the manufactured expanded glass can be used for lithium battery fire suppression. The process of manufacturing expanded glass using waste glass is generally divided into Crushing → Milling → Granulation → Expansion → Cooling. With several trials a nd errors. It is obtained a yield of 0.5 ø mm to 2 ø mm spherical particles of 80 % or more. By comparing the surface analysis and physical properties, a more suitable sample was selected as a fire extinguishing agent for lithium batteries, and it was confirmed that the result of the adaptability test for lithium battery fire was satisfactory.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.21-29
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• 2024

Globally, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is surging due to carbon-neutral strategies aimed at decarbonization. Consequently, the demand for lithium-ion batteries, which are essential components of EVs, is also rising, leading to an increase in the generation of spent batteries. This has prompted research into the recycling of spent batteries to recover valuable metals. In this study, we aimed to selectively leach and recover lithium from the cathode material of spent LFP batteries. To enhance the reaction surface area and reactivity, the binder in the cathode material powder was removed, and the material was subjected to heat treatment in both atmospheric and nitrogen environments across various temperature ranges. This was followed by a mechanochemical process for aqueous leaching. Initially, after heat treatment, the powder was converted into a soluble lithium compound using sodium persulfate (Na₂S₂O₈) in a mechanochemical reaction. Subsequently, aqueous leaching was performed using distilled water. This study confirmed the changes in the characteristics of the cathode material powder due to heat treatment. The final heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere resulted in a lithium leaching efficiency of approximately 100% across all temperature ranges.