Kinetics study of Recycling Process of Spent Lithium Iron-phosphate Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are powering a myriad of electronic and electric devices. There are many types of LIBs used for various applications including electric vehicles, electronics, and stationary energy storage. They are mostly based on lithiumcobalt cathodic compounds. Conversely, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is a cobalt free cathodic material that is preferred over cobalt based LIBs for powering electrical and hybrid buses because of its relatively good energy density, its highly safe operation, its low cost, and its lower environmental impact. Nevertheless, the current recycling methods are not adapted for this material. Indeed, after being processed in current pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical recycling centres, the lithium, the iron, and the phosphorous composing LFP end-up in a solid waste. Therefore, a new recycling process based on selective hydrometallurgy was developed by Hydro-Québec to regenerate spent LFP as a new battery material. The current project is aiming to understand the reaction mechanisms and kinetics in order to optimize the process.

Faculty Supervisor:

George Demopoulos

Student:

François Larouche

Partner:

Institut de Recherche Hydro-Québec - Laboratoire des Technologies de l'Énergie

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

University:

McGill University

Program: