Grantee Research Project Results
2020 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 , Schienke, Matthew , Sturm, Jon , Olson, Zachary
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, 2020 through March 31,2021
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 proof-of-concept (POC) demonstration. This proposed process is capable of separating individual components from spent Li-ion batteries and producing high-purity cathode active materials for new battery manufacturing. The team has successfully demonstrated that froth flotation and gravity separation methods effectively separate fine and coarse battery materials, respectively. Another objective of this project is to provide research opportunities to undergraduate students of diverse background and educational materials for high-school students and teachers.
Progress Summary:
In FY21, MTU battery recycling team has constructed and tested laboratory-scale teeter-bed separator and 2-inch flotation columns for the recycling of Li-ion batteries. The flotation column separates the anode and cathode active materials from the black mass with a product purity of above 90% in the separated streams. The teeter-bed separator works well in separating copper and aluminum foils from spent Li-ion batteries. In addition, we are in the process of developing a technology that effectively removes electrode active materials from current collectors using the mechanical method. Two integrated recycling systems have been designed and evaluated, and experiments are being conducted to evaluate the performance of these two recycling systems. Furthermore, a crossflow teeter-bed separator demonstration was built on a mobile skid for the educational purpose. This unit operation has been tested. The demonstration at the 2021 TechConnect conference has been posted due to the COVID restriction. We are currently communicating with local high-school teachers on the use of this mobile unit in the classroom.
Future Activities:
We have completed task 1 and 2 and met milestones. The new battery recycling processes enable a sorting of all battery components from spent Li-ion batteries and produce high-purity electrode active materials. Two manuscripts have been published in the top journals. The POC system has been design and is currently under the construction.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 5 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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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) |
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Zhan R, Yang Z, Bloom I, Pan L. Significance of a Solid Electrolyte Interphase on Separation of Anode and Cathode Materials from Spent Li-Ion Batteries by Froth Flotation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2020;9(1):531-40. |
SV839485 (2020) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Li-ion battery recycling; mineral processing; froth flotation; gravity separation.Relevant Websites:
Pan Research Group Exit , Michigan Tech Exit
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.