The Comparison of Lithium Carbonate Recovered from Single Type and Unknown Mixed Type of Lithium-Ion Batteries through a Simple Way Carbonated Water Leaching

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36 A, Surakarta, Central Java 57126, Indonesia
² Centre of Excellence for Electrical Energy Storage Technology, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Slamet Riyadi, 435, Surakarta Indonesia
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Vocation, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir.Sutami 36 A, Surakarta, Central Java 57126, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: arifjumari_ft@staff.uns.ac.id

Abstract

Lithium is a rare earth element, but it is important in LIB manufacturing. Spent LIBs is a potential source of lithium. The research aim was to recover lithium from spent LiNCA and mixed LIBthrough selective leaching using carbonated water. The spent cathode and anode were separated by dismantling and dissolving using NaOH and hot water. The spent cathode was reduced by mixing with 20% spent anode and heating at temperature of 650 ^oC for 6 hours. The reduced cathodes of 25 g were mixed with 250 ml of water and flowed by 2 L/minute of CO₂ gas for 150 minutes at ambient temperature. The residue was separated from filtrate. The reduced cathode and residue were examined by XRD and FTIR, while filtrate was heated for evaporating solvent to obtain precipitated Li₂CO₃. Theprecipitated Li₂CO₃ was 0,151 g/g of LiNCA and 0,034 g/g of mixed spent cathode. The characteristicsof Li₂CO₃ recovered from spent LiNCA closed to pure Li₂CO₃ even above the commercial Li₂CO₃ and met the requirements as an active precursor material for manufacturing LIB cathodes. Meanwhile Li₂CO₃ recovered from spent mixed cathode had some impurities and was needed further purification process.