Resources Recycling (자원리싸이클링)

The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling (한국자원리싸이클링학회)
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A Study on the Leaching and Recovery of Lithium by Reaction between Ferric Chloride Etching Solution and Waste Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathode Powder

폐리튬인산철 양극재 분말과 염화철 에칭액과의 반응에 의한 리튬의 침출 및 회수에 대한 연구

  • Hee-Seon Kim (Advanced Materials and Processing Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE)) ;
  • Dae-Weon Kim (Advanced Materials and Processing Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE)) ;
  • Byung-Man Chae (KMC Co., LTD) ;
  • Sang-Woo Lee (KMC Co., LTD)
  • Received : 2023.03.29
  • Accepted : 2023.04.26
  • Published : 2023.06.30
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Abstract

Efforts are currently underway to develop a method for efficiently recovering lithium from the cathode material of waste lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP). The successful application of lithium battery recycling can address the regional ubiquity and price volatility of lithium resources, while also mitigating the environmental impact associated with both waste battery material and lithium production processes. The isomorphic substitution leaching process was used to recover lithium from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. Lithium was leached by the isomorphic substitution of Fe2+ in LFP using a relatively inexpensive ferric chloride etching solution as a leaching agent. In the study, the leaching rate of lithium was compared using the ferric chloride etching solution at various multiples of the LFP molar ratio: 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 times. The highest lithium leaching rate was shown at about 98% when using 1.3 times the LFP molar ratio. Subsequently, to eliminate Fe, the leachate was treated with NaOH. The Fe-free solution was then used to synthesize lithium carbonate, and the harvested powder was characterized and validated. The surface shape and crystal phase were analyzed using SEM and XRD analysis, and impurities and purity were confirmed using ICP analysis.

폐리튬인산철 전지의 양극재로부터 리튬을 효율적으로 회수하기 위하여 활발하게 연구 중이며, 이는 리튬 자원의 지역 편재성 및 가격 변동성을 해소하고 환경오염 문제를 해결할 수 있다. 폐리튬인산철 전지로부터 리튬을 침출 및 회수하기 위하여 동형치환 침출 공정을 사용하였다. 상대적으로 저렴한 염화철 에칭액을 침출제로 사용하여 LFP의 Fe2+를 동형 치환하여 리튬을 침출하였다. 또한 추가적인 첨가제 및 추출제 없이 염화철 에칭액만을 사용하였으며, 염화철 에칭액을 LFP 이론적 몰 비 대비 0.7배, 1.0배, 1.3배, 그리고 1.6배로 하여 리튬의 침출율을 비교하였다. LFP 몰 비 대비 1.3배의 조건에서 약 98%로 가장 높은 리튬 침출율을 보였고 이후 침출액은 NaOH를 투입하여 pH 조절을 통하여 철을 제거하였다. 철이 제거된 용액으로부터 탄산리튬을 합성하였고, 그 분말 특성을 확인하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 2022년도 산업통상자원부의 재원으로 한국에너지기술평가원의 지원을 받아 수행한 연구 과제입니다(재생자원의 저탄소 산업 원료화 기술개발 사업 No. 20229A10100100).

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