Developing innovative and sustainable processes for lithium recycling and primary extraction

开发锂回收和初级提取的创新和可持续工艺

• 批准号: 521007-2017
• 负责人: Azimi, Gisele
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=696760
• 关键词: Developing; innovative; sustainable; processes; lithium

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.

该提案描述了开发创新和环保的提取和回收工艺的计划，以解决与锂供需不平衡相关的可持续性挑战。如今，为了应对气候变化，人们正在推动交通电气化和可再生能源并网发电，这两者都依赖于电池。锂离子电池是可充电电池中引人注目的一代，在工业上得到了广泛应用；然而，考虑到预计锂消费量的增加，锂资源的未来可用性及其成本值得关注。为了解决锂的供应瓶颈，城市后消费电池的开采以及现有锂一次提取工艺的改进势在必行。这项工作将使加拿大储能行业的短期废物价值增值，以及实现显著的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）改进锂的初级湿法冶金萃取工艺；（III）开发电渗析工艺，以生产高纯度的LiOH。初步结果已经为这些过程建立了原理证明。为了实现该项目的目标，将采用多学科方法，将超临界流体工程、工艺工程和优化、热力学、电化学和材料表征结合起来。该项目利用了哈奇的专业知识和资金，哈奇是一家以知识为基础的先锋咨询公司，也是全球金属、基础设施和能源领域的技术和工厂内服务提供商，与多伦多大学的Azimi集团合作三年。该项目在学术卓越、工业竞争优势和高素质人才方面对加拿大非常有益，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。