Value-added recycling technology for difficult-to-treat lithium materials: turning "waste" into treasure, tapping into the blue ocean of lithium recycling economy of hundreds of billions

Abstract: With the explosive growth of new energy automobile industry, the strategic position of lithium resources is becoming more and more prominent. However, a large number of lithium battery waste, production waste and other "difficult to handle lithium material" has become a pain point in the industry. This paper discusses the advanced value-added recovery technology of difficult-to-handle lithium materials, how to convert these "tricky" materials into high-purity lithium salts, to achieve resource recycling and maximize the economic benefits, and to point out a value-added road of sustainable development for the relevant enterprises.

Keywords: value-added recovery technology for difficult-to-handle lithium materials, lithium recycling, black powder lithium, waste lithium battery recycling, lithium mica lithium, lithium slag treatment, valuable metal recovery

First, the pain of the industry: why "difficult to handle lithium material" has become a hot potato?

In the lithium battery manufacturing, consumption and recycling of various links, resulting in a large number of complex composition, low grade or difficult to deal with lithium-containing materials, we collectively referred to as "difficult to deal with lithium material". They mainly include:

• Lithium battery production waste: pole piece waste, coating waste, battery trimmings and so on.

• Waste lithium battery recycling "black powder": after crushing and sorting, mixed metal powder rich in lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.

• Lithium pyroxene, lithium mica lithium extraction process by-products: such as lithium dregs, tailings, etc., which still contains considerable available lithium.

• Other lithium-containing waste: failed catalysts, special glass ceramic waste, etc..

These materials "difficult to deal with" is reflected in: complex composition, high impurity content, physical form of different, low recovery rate of traditional processes, environmental protection and high treatment costs. If not properly disposed of, it will not only cause waste of valuable lithium resources, but also bring serious environmental pressure. For recycling companies and battery manufacturers, how to efficiently and economically "dry" the value of these materials has become the core competitiveness.

Second, technology breakthrough: advanced "difficult to handle lithium material value-added recycling technology" core analysis

The traditional pyrometallurgy and simple hydrometallurgy have problems such as low recovery rate, high energy consumption and high pollution. Nowadays, the leading value-added recovery technology for difficult-to-process lithium materials has realized leapfrog development, and its core lies in precise separation, efficient purification and targeted transformation.

1. Precise pretreatment and activation technology:
For materials from different sources, targeted physical sorting, pyrolysis degumming, mechanical activation and other means are used to break the structure of the material and create favorable conditions for the subsequent efficient leaching of lithium.

2. High-efficiency selective leaching technology:
Using advanced leaching agent system, under specific conditions (such as control of pH, temperature, potential), to achieve selective priority leaching of lithium, while as far as possible, iron, aluminum, copper and other impurity elements remain in the slag, from the source to simplify the purification process, and improve the purity of the product.

3. Deep purification and concentration technology:
Adopt advanced technologies such as solvent extraction, ion exchange, membrane separation, etc. to remove the coexisting impurity ions (such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) in the leaching solution in depth. These technologies have the advantages of high selectivity, high recovery rate and good automation, which can effectively guarantee the quality of subsequent lithium products.

4. Short process preparation of high-purity lithium salt technology:
The purified lithium-rich solution is directly converted into battery-grade lithium carbonate, battery-grade lithium hydroxide and other high value-added products that are urgently needed in the market through short-flow processes such as precipitation, crystallization and electrolysis, which greatly improves the economic benefits of the whole recycling process.

Summary of technical advantages:

• High recovery rate: lithium recovery rate of more than 85%, far more than the traditional process.

• High product value: direct output of battery-grade lithium salt to maximize the value.

• Environmentally friendly: the whole process is green and low-carbon, and waste water and waste residue can be discharged or utilized in a resourceful way.

• Strong adaptability: It can deal with a variety of complex sources of difficult-to-treat lithium materials, with wide adaptability of raw materials.

Third, value re-creation: embrace the certainty of the future of lithium circular economy

Investing in advanced value-added recycling technology for difficult-to-treat lithium materials is not only a solution to environmental issues, but also a strategic value investment.

• Economic benefits:

  • Low-cost raw materials: obtain lithium resources at a cost far lower than that of raw minerals.

  • High-value products: The products directly target the core raw material market of power batteries, with huge profit margins.

  • Industry chain synergy: Battery manufacturers can realize closed-loop recycling of internal waste materials, reducing the risk of raw material fluctuations.

• Social and environmental benefits:

  • Guarantee resource security: greatly increase the self-sufficiency rate of domestic lithium resources, alleviate the dependence on imports.

  • Promoting green development: practicing the goal of "double carbon" and building a green and low-carbon circular economy system.

  • Enhance corporate image: Demonstrate corporate social responsibility and leadership in sustainable development.

Conclusion: Choose professional partners to win the "urban mine" together.

In the face of the growing "urban mine", whoever masters the advanced value-added recovery technology for difficult-to-treat lithium materials will be the key link in the future lithium industry chain.

We specialize in providing global customers with value-added recovery of refractory lithium material as a total solution and core technology and equipment. From technical consulting, process package design to project implementation and operation support, we are committed to helping you turn every gram of "forgotten" lithium into real wealth through innovative technology.

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