Grantee Research Project Results
2019 Progress Report: Separation and Recovery of Individual Components from theEnd-of-Life Lithium-ion Batteries
EPA Grant Number: SV839485Title: Separation and Recovery of Individual Components from theEnd-of-Life Lithium-ion Batteries
Investigators: Pan, Lei , Zhan, Ruiting , Folayan, Tinu , Nunneley, Lucille , McGee, Michael , Schienke, Matthew
Current Investigators: Pan, Lei , Zhan, Ruiting , Folayan, Tinu , Payne, Trevyn , Oldenburg, Zack , Schienke, Matthew , Nunneley, Lucille , Billman, Tim , Olson, Zackary
Institution: Michigan Technological University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2021 (Extended to March 31, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: April 1, 2019 through March 31,2020
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2019) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety
Objective:
The objective of the phase II project is to scale up the Li-ion battery recycling process from the bench scale that has been completed in the phase I project to a lab-scale proof-of-concept demonstration. This system is capable of separating individual components from spent Li-ion batteries and producing high-purity active cathode materials for new batteries. The phase II project is built upon the success of the Phase I project in which the team successfully demonstrated that froth flotation and gravity concentrators effectively separate fine and coarse battery materials. Another objective of this project is to provide research opportunities to undergraduate students of diverse background and educational resources for high-school students and teachers.
Progress Summary:
In FY20, MTU battery recycling team has completed a construction of a laboratory-scale PID-controlled teeter-bed separator and a 2-inch diameter flotation. Both units can be operated at the batch and continuous modes. The performance of the lab-scale flotation column and teeter-bed separator is comparable to that of bench-scale commercial equipment. Researchers have developed a new technology that increases the purity of recycled cathode active materials to 97% or above. The design of an integrated circuit is on-going. Furthermore, a crossflow teeter-bed separator has been built on a mobile skid for educational purpose. This unit will be demonstrated at 2021 TechConnect conference. Researchers have contacted local high-school teachers about the adaption of this mobile separation unit in their classroom. The discussion has been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the researchers look forward to resuming some of outreach activities in FY21.
Future Activities:
Researchers have completed the task 1, and a new technology that increases the purity of recycled cathode active materials has been developed. One manuscript has been published. The mobile POC system is currently under the construction, and unit operation of two separation methods for battery components shows promising results.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 5 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Zhan R, Payne T, Leftwich T, Perrine K, Pan L. De-agglomeration of cathode composites for direct recycling of Li-ion batteries. Waste Management 2020;105:39-48. |
SV839485 (2019) SV839485 (2020) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
Li-ion battery recycling; mineral processing; froth flotation; gravity separationRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Separation and Recovery of Individual Components from the End-of-Life Lithium-ion Batteries | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.