• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2022

High-purity waste CNTs were mixed into cement mortar to manufacture heat-generating concrete that can use low voltage power, and carbon fiber and waste cathode materials were also used improve the conductivity of the mortar. The waste CNTs were analyzed to have a high concentration of multi-walled CNTs, and substituted liquid type waste CNTs were used during mortar mixing in order to increase dispersibility. The temperature change of the mortar with CNT was evaluated when using electric power below DC 24 V in order to utilize a small self-generation facility such as small solar power module when the mortar heats up and to minimize electromagnetic waves. When liquid-type waste CNTs were applied and a voltage of DC 24 V was introduced, it rose to 60 ℃ in a 200 × 100 × 50 mm mortar block specimen. The field applicability of self heating mortar with waste CNT was sufficient and also the amount of change in heat energy in mortar with liquid type waste CNT, carbon fiber and waste cathode materials is more effective compared to it of other variables.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.66-73
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study was to develop self-heating concrete by utilizing the conduction resistance of concrete in order to reduce the risk of occurrence of black ice in the concrete pavement in winter and to prevent damage caused by freez-thawing effect. For this purpose, it was attempted to evaluate the strength and temperature exothermic characteristics using powder and liquid waste CNTs and a waste cathode agent as a conduction promotion. It was analyzed that liquid waste CNT had an effective dispersion degree in the mortar and a small decrease in strength occurred. In addition, DC 24 V was supplied by applying steel mesh, copper foil and copper wire to the mortar as electrodes, and the temperature change characteristics according to the mixing ratio of spent CNTs, anodes and carbon fibers were evaluated. In addition, by evaluating the temperature characteristics according to the electrode spacing from the selected optimal mixture, it was confirmed that it had sufficient heating characteristics up to an electrode spacing of 100 mm up to AC 50 V.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.497-501
• /
• 2021

Cobalt (Co) is mainly used to prepare cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and binder metals for WC-Co hard metals. Developing an effective method for recovering Co from WC-Co waste sludge is of immense significance. In this study, Co is extracted from waste cemented carbide soft scrap via mechanochemical milling. The leaching ratio of Co reaches approximately 93%, and the leached solution, from which impurities except nickel are removed by pH titration, exhibits a purity of approximately 97%. The titrated aqueous Co salts are precipitated using oxalic acid and hydroxide precipitation, and the effects of the precipitating agent (oxalic acid and hydroxide) on the cobalt microstructure are investigated. It is confirmed that the type of Co compound and the crystal growth direction change according to the precipitation method, both of which affect the microstructure of the cobalt powders. This novel mechanochemical process is of significant importance for the recovery of Co from waste WC-Co hard metal. The recycled Co can be applied as a cemented carbide binder or a cathode material for lithium secondary batteries.

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

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2023

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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2012

BACKGROUND: In recent years, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a promising technology for recovering renewable energy from waste biomass, especially wastewater. In this study, the possibility of bioelectricity generation in two chambered mediator-less microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was successfully demonstrated using fermentable and non-fermentable substrates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two different electron acceptors have been tested in the cathode chamber for the effects of reducing agent on the power generation in MFCs. The average voltages of $0.26{\pm}0.014$ V and $0.36{\pm}0.02$ V were achieved with acetate using oxygen and potassium ferricyanide as reducing agent, respectively. Similarly, with glucose the average voltages of $0.256{\pm}0.05$ V and $0.340{\pm}0.04$ V were obtained using oxygen and ferricyanide, respectively. Using potassium ferricyanide as the reducing agent, the power output increases by 39 and 43% with acetate and glucose, respectively, as compared to the dissolved oxygen. Slightly higher coulombic efficiency (CE%) was obtained in acetate as compared to MFCs operated with glucose. The maximum power densities of 124 mW/$m^2$ and 204 mW/$m^2$ were obtained using dissolved oxygen and $K_3Fe(CN)_6$, respectively. CONCLUSION(s): This study demonstrates that power generation from the MFCs can be influenced significantly by the different types of catholyte. Relatively higher CE was obtained with $K_3Fe(CN)_6$. Thus, application of $K_3Fe(CN)_6$ as the catholyte can be vital for scaling uppower generation from the MFCs forreal time applications.