M.H. Faraj
Momentum Technologies,
United States
Keywords: lithium recovery, membrane solvent extraction
Summary:
The rise of lithium-ion battery usage has led to an urgent need for efficient lithium recovery from end-of-life batteries. Black mass, the residue of shredded battery materials, produces complex acidic leachates containing lithium along with high concentrations of cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Conventional solvent extraction (SX) techniques face major challenges in this context, including phase separation difficulties, emulsion formation, and significant organic losses. This study presents a membrane solvent extraction (MSX) system designed for selective lithium recovery from black mass leachates. The leachate was first pre-treated with caustic to remove contaminants e.g. Iron, Aluminum, Copper; followed by Nickel and Cobalt separation using MSX with D2EHPA and Cyanex272 extractants; and at last, the Lithium was recovered using MSX with Cyanex936P extractant. The extraction efficiency and selectivity of lithium were evaluated at numerous factors such as flow rates, temperature, operating pH, initial lithium (feed) concentration, and strip concentration. Lithium purity of >99% in the stripping solution was achieved as a result. The improved selectivity of lithium and continuous extraction capability using MSX technology while limiting environmental waste and pollution supports lower-cost lithium sourcing, sustainable extraction, and a circular economy overall.