Developing innovative and sustainable processes for lithium recycling and primary extraction

该提案描述了开发创新和环境友好的提取和回收工艺的计划，以应对与锂供需失衡相关的可持续性挑战。如今，交通电气化和可再生能源并网是为了应对气候变化而推动的，两者都依赖于电池。锂离子电池是一种重要的可充电电池，在行业中得到了广泛的应用；然而，考虑到锂消费的预计增长，锂资源的未来可用性及其成本令人担忧。为了解决锂供应的瓶颈，城市开采消费后电池以及加强现有的锂一次提取工艺势在必行。这项工作将实现加拿大能源储存行业的短期废物价格化，以及提供显著环境效益和解决锂供应挑战的长期目标。该工作计划包括三个并行的部分，重点是：(I)开发超临界流体萃取工艺以回收锂离子电池中的锂，(Ii)改进锂的一次湿法萃取工艺，以及(Iii)开发电渗析工艺以生产高纯度氢氧化锂。初步结果为这些过程建立了原则证明。为了实现该项目的目标，将遵循多学科方法，将超临界流体工程、过程工程和优化、热力学、电化学和材料表征放在一起。该项目利用Hatch的专业知识和资金，Hatch是一家基于知识的先驱咨询公司，为全球金属、基础设施和能源行业提供技术和工厂服务，与多伦多大学的Azimi小组建立了为期三年的合作伙伴关系。该项目在学术卓越、行业竞争优势和高素质人才方面对加拿大非常有利，因为它为基于知识的经济和环境影响创造了机会，并增强了加拿大矿产、金属和能源部门的技术优势。

This proposal describes the plan for the development of innovative and environmentally friendly extraction and recycling processes to address the sustainability challenges associated with lithium supply-demand imbalance. Nowadays, electrification of transportation and integration of renewables into electric grid are promoted to combat climate change, both relying on batteries. Lithium ion batteries, a notable generation of rechargeable batteries, are widely utilized in the industry; however, considering the projected increase in lithium consumption, the future availability of lithium resources and their cost is of concern. To resolve the bottleneck for the supply of lithium, urban mining of postconsumer batteries as well as enhancement of existing lithium primary extraction processes is imperative. This work will enable near-term waste valorization in Canadian energy storage industry, as well as long-term objectives of delivering significant environmental benefits and resolving lithium supply challenge. The work plan involves three concurrent Segments focusing on: (I) developing a supercritical fluid extraction process to recycle lithium from lithium ion batteries, (II) improving primary hydrometallurgical extraction processes for lithium, and (III) developing an electrodialysis process for producing high purity LiOH. Preliminary results have established proof-of-principle for these processes. To achieve the goals of the project, a multidisciplinary approach that places at the intersection of supercritical fluid engineering, process engineering and optimization, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and materials characterization will be followed. This project leverages expertise and funds from Hatch, a knowledge-based pioneer consulting firm and technology and in-plant service provider to the global metals, infrastructure, and energy sectors, in a three-year partnership with the Azimi group at the University of Toronto. This project is highly beneficial for Canada in terms of academic excellence, industrial competitive advantage, and highly qualified personnel, as it creates the opportunity for knowledge based economic and environmental impact as well as enhanced technical edge in the Canadian Minerals, Metals, and Energy sectors.