Rare Metal Extraction & Processing: Lithium, Cobalt, Rare Earth Metals
Sponsored by: TMS Extraction and Processing Division, TMS: Hydrometallurgy and Electrometallurgy Committee
Program Organizers: Gisele Azimi, University of Toronto; Takanari Ouchi, University of Tokyo; Hojong Kim, Pennsylvania State University; Shafiq Alam, University of Saskatchewan; Kerstin Forsberg, KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Alafara Baba, University of Ilorin
Monday 8:00 AM
February 24, 2020
Room: 13
Location: San Diego Convention Ctr
Session Chair: Gisele Azimi, University of Toronto; Kerstin Forsberg, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
8:00 AM Keynote
Development of a Physiochemical Model Combined with an Engineering Model for Predicting Solvent Extraction Performances within the Context of Lithium-ion Battery Recycling: Alexandre Chagnes1; 1GéoRessources, Université de Lorraine
Lithium-ion battery is the technology of choice in the development of electric vehicles. This technology is now mature although there are still many challenges such as increase of energy density, safety as well as development of lithium-ion batteries recycling processes. This conference aims at introducing recent development in hydrometallurgy in order to produce sustainable lithium-ion batteries within the framework of energy transition and electric mobility. The development of efficient solvent extraction processes to recover nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium from lithium-ion batteries relies both the design of new extracting agents and the optimization of flowsheet operating conditions. For this goal, new modelling tools have to be developed. This talk will focus particularly on the development of a physicochemical model combining engineering model to predict solvent extraction performances for the recovery of the above-mentioned metals from acidic chloride media.
8:30 AM
A Fundamental Investigation of Li2CO3 Crystallization from Li2SO4 System: Hongting Liu1; Gisele Azimi1; 1University of Toronto
In this study, the fundamentals of the crystallization process of Li2CO3 from Li2SO4 solution by adding Na2CO3 was investigated. Experimental data indicated that mixing both salt solutions with 2 mol/L initial concentration at 65 °C and 600 rpm agitation speed resulted in 80% lithium recovery from Li2SO4 as Li2CO3 with less than 2 wt% product impurity within 2 h equilibration time. The presence of impurities, i.e., CaSO4 and Na2SO4, in the initial Li2SO4 solution had significant negative impact on both lithium recovery efficiency and purity level of the final Li2CO3 product. Feeding rate of Na2CO3 solution to Li2SO4 solution showed minimal effect on the reaction. Adding seed in the initial Li2SO4 solution resulted in no change of recovery efficiency, but slightly increased impurity level. Seeding with different seed loadings and sizes had a direct effect on the product morphology. Nucleation model of this process was developed based on induction time.
8:50 AM
Recycling of End-of-life Lithium-ion Battery of Electric Vehicles: Ka Ho Chan1; Monu Malik1; John Anawati1; Gisele Azimi1; 1Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
This study put the emphasis on developing and optimizing efficient hydrometallurgical processes to recycle a lithium-ion battery of an electric vehicle utilizing systematic experimental and theoretical approaches based on Design of Experiment Methodology. Two leachants, i.e., HCl and H2SO4+H2O2 were utilized and on the basis of fractional factorial design for the metal leaching efficiency, the most effective leachant was selected as H2SO4+H2O2. In this case, 1.5 M H2SO4 with 1.0 wt% H2O2 at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 20 mL g-1 and temperature of 50 °C for 60 min resulted in the recovery of 100% lithium, 98.4% cobalt, 98.6% nickel, and 98.6% manganese. Moreover, a process mechanism of H2SO4+H2O2 leaching of all four metals was proposed. Finally, the Co, Ni, and Mn co-precipitate and Li2CO3 precipitate were combined to regenerate a new cathode active material.
9:10 AM Cancelled
Optimal Hydrometallurgical Extraction Conditions for Lithium from a Nigerian Polylithionite Ore for Industrial Application: Omoniyi Israel1; Agaku Peter1; Baba Alafara2; 1Ahmadu Bello University; 2University of Ilorin
The endowment of Nigeria with solid mineral resources has warranted the present call for economic diversification from petroleum exploration. There is good performance of lithium and industrial lithium compounds in wide array of applications in health sector among others. The study reports the extraction of lithium from polylithionite ore obtained from Keffi, Nigeria in chloride media. The effects of experimental conditions: roasting temperature and time, mix ratio,cacine to liquid ratio were investigated using the Li ore assayed 3.25 wt% Li. The best ratio of polylithionite:NaCl:CaCl2 was 1:1:1 at 9000C and 5 min roasting. Acidic leaching of the residual lithium with defined conditions leached lithium with 83.82% efficiency. Beneficiation of lithium-leach-liquor for industrial value addition shall be reported in due course.
9:30 AM Break
9:45 AM
Selective Lithium Recovery from Brines Using Hydrothermally Treated Titania Slag: Raja Shekhar Marthi1; York Smith1; 1University of Utah
Ion-exchange adsorbents such as delithiated lithium titanium oxides (LTOs) are highly effective for selective lithium adsorption from the brines. In this work, we have synthesized LTO from waste titania slag and immobilized on a diatomaceous earth (DE) support. Titania slag was hydrothermally treated in alkaline solution to remove slag impurities. Acidic leaching followed by hydrolysis was performed to dissolve impurities and immobilize TiO2 on DE. Subsequent solid-state synthesis with Li2CO3 resulted in LTO formation. Batch adsorption studies show that around 99 % of lithium was adsorbed from a buffered 50 ppm Li. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies show the lithium adsorption to be an endothermic chemisorption process. The LTO-DE composite was also tested with Great Salt Lake samples and its performance evaluated.
10:05 AM
Review on Removal of Impurities from REE Processing Solutions: William Judge1; Gisele Azimi1; 1University of Toronto
While the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) continues to grow, the supply situation for REEs has become increasingly volatile leading nations to develop new REE mines and explore alternative REE sources such as end-of-life products. Compositionally, these new REE sources can differ significantly from the usual REE ores for which extractive metallurgical practices are well-established. To bring new REE sources to market requires development of impurity removal practices to ensure minimal entrainment of impurities in REE concentrates and final products. This work comprehensively reviews recent progress in impurity removal during REE processing covering techniques including solvent extraction, ion exchange and adsorption, selective precipitation, and emerging techniques. Regarding impurities, most of the periodic table is covered with special attention given to iron, thorium, uranium, and aluminum.
10:25 AM
Molecular Recognition Approach to REE Extraction, Separation and Recycling: Gulaim Seisenbaeva1; 1SLU
Rare Earth elements (REE) are highly requested by modern industry, being indispensable for construction of electric vehicles and environmentally friendly energy sources. Challenge in their production lies in their joint occurence and similar chemical properties. It can be answered by using solid phase extraction, applying highly selective nanostructured adsorbents. The latter are bearing organic ligands with high specific affinity to particular REE grafted on their surface via covalent bonding. A comparative study, demonstrating the ligand properties in relation to distinct REE and such conditions as concentration of solutions and pH. Recommendations have been elaborated for specific choice of ligands and adsorption-desorption conditions for improved separation of single REE. The results have been verified in separation of REE from complex leachates both by magnetic nano adsorbents and by mesoporous microparticles applied as a sorbent in High Performance Chelation Ion Chromatography (HPCIC).
10:45 AM Cancelled
Production of Energy Saving Materials from the Waste Mixtures of REEs: Martina Petranikova1; Moufida Mansouri1; Cristian Tunsu1; Burcak Ebin1; 1Chalmers University of Technology
Recycling of spent NiMH batteries leads to the generation of REEs mixtures: La, Ce, Nd, Pr and Y. Some of these REEs are essential in the production of magnetocaloric materials from primary sources. In this research, utilization of recovered REE mixtures from waste batteries was investigated for their use in magnetocaloric materials. The effects of impurities on the magnetocaloric properties was studied, to determine the need for purification steps. The aim was to design a flexible technology for purification and material production, applicable to mixtures coming from different NiMH batteries.
11:05 AM
Selective Recovery of Scandium from Nickel Laterite Ore by Acid Roasting - Water Leaching: John Anawati1; Runlin Yuan1; Jihye Kim1; Gisele Azimi1; 1University of Toronto
Scandium is a rare and expensive metal that is in increasing demand because of its unique properties. Laterite ore is known to contain scandium in appreciable amounts. In this study, a two-stage process called acid roasting water leaching was developed to extract scandium from laterite ore with minimal co-extraction of iron. In this process, the ore was mixed with concentrated sulfuric acid (98 wt%) and roasted in a furnace at above 700 °C. The roasted ore was then leached in water at ambient conditions. During acid roasting, Fe2(SO4)3 decomposed to Fe2O3, which is insoluble in water; thus, it can be separated during the leaching process. A fractional factorial design methodology was utilized to investigate the effect of various operating parameters during the roasting and leaching processes and to optimize the processes. After optimization, 94 % of scandium was recovered with less than 14 % co-extraction of iron.