Lithium, often called “white gold,” is a key ingredient in batteries, particularly for phones, laptops, and electric vehicles (EVs). With the global lithium-ion battery (LIB) market valued at over $65 billion in 2023 and expected to grow by over 23% in the next eight years, concerns about lithium supply are rising. Current recycling methods are inefficient, recovering less than 5% of lithium from spent batteries and often involving environmentally harmful processes.
A team at Rice University has developed a new method for lithium recovery that is both efficient and more environmentally friendly. Their process uses microwave radiation and a biodegradable solvent, significantly improving the speed and efficiency of lithium extraction from spent LIB cathodes. This method can recover up to 50% of the lithium in just 30 seconds.
The key to this innovation lies in the selective heating properties of the solvents used. The research team utilized a deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprising choline chloride and ethylene glycol. When exposed to microwave radiation, this solvent surrounds the lithium and leaches it first. This method significantly reduces the time required for lithium recovery by more than 100 times and avoids the decomposition of the solvent, a common issue with traditional, prolonged heating methods.
This new process enhances the recovery rate and reduces the environmental impact of recycling, making it a promising candidate for large-scale implementation in LIB recycling. The research suggests that adjusting the DES composition can be tailored for selective metal recovery.
