Characterization and Thermal Treatment of the Black Mass from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries

Elsayed Mousa (), Xianfeng Hu, Ludvig Ånnhagen, Guozhu Ye, Antonella Cornelio, Ario Fahimi, Elza Bontempi, Patrizia Frontera, Charlotte Badenhorst, Ana Cláudia Santos, Karen Moreira, Alexandra Guedes and Bruno Valentim
Additional contact information
Elsayed Mousa: SWERIM AB, Aronstorpsvägen 1, SE-974 37 Luleå, Sweden
Xianfeng Hu: SWERIM AB, Aronstorpsvägen 1, SE-974 37 Luleå, Sweden
Ludvig Ånnhagen: SWERIM AB, Aronstorpsvägen 1, SE-974 37 Luleå, Sweden
Guozhu Ye: SWERIM AB, Aronstorpsvägen 1, SE-974 37 Luleå, Sweden
Antonella Cornelio: INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Ario Fahimi: INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Elza Bontempi: INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Patrizia Frontera: INSTM and Dipartimento DICEAM, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Charlotte Badenhorst: Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Science Institute-Porto Pole, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Santos: Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Science Institute-Porto Pole, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Karen Moreira: Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Science Institute-Porto Pole, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Alexandra Guedes: Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Science Institute-Porto Pole, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Bruno Valentim: Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Science Institute-Porto Pole, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Recycling lithium-ion batteries is crucial for the environment and the sustainability of primary resources. In this paper, we report on the characterization of two grades of black mass from spent lithium-ion batteries (with typical lithium–nickel–manganese–cobalt oxide cathode compositions) and their behavior during heating trials. This study paves the way for optimizing lithium-ion battery recycling processes by fully characterizing black mass samples before and after heating. A gas release under pyrolytic conditions was detected using a multicomponent mass spectrometer and included dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, oxygenated hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons, and other miscellaneous gases. This can be attributed to the evaporation of volatile organic compounds, conductive salt, organic polyvinylidene fluoride binder, and an organic separator such as polypropylene. Thermal treatment led to the partial decomposition of the binder into char and newly formed fluorine cuboids. The compaction of the cathode decreased, but the remaining binder limited recycling processes. By heating the black mass samples to 900 °C, the intensity of the X-ray diffraction graphitic carbon peak decreased, and the lithium metal oxides were reduced to their corresponding metals. The graphite in the black mass samples was structurally more disordered than natural graphite but became more ordered when heated.

Keywords: batteries; lithium; graphite; binder; pyrolysis; recycling; hazardous gases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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