Innovative Approach to Recycle Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrolytes via Sequential Chemical Processes

Hsu, Ting‐Wei; Lipson, Albert; Zhang, Zhengcheng

doi:10.1002/aenm.202500655

Innovative Approach to Recycle Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrolytes via Sequential Chemical Processes

Journal Article · Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202500655· OSTI ID:2543149

Hsu, Ting‐Wei ^[1]; Lipson, Albert ^[2]; ^[3]

Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont IL 60439 USA
Applied Material Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont IL 60439 USA
Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont IL 60439 USA, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering The University of Chicago 5640 S. Ellis Ave. Chicago IL 60637 USA

Abstract

The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EV) has driven the widespread use of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). This will result in a large amount of spent batteries that if not properly disposed will pose significant environmental damage, especially from the electrolyte. The electrolyte contains lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF ₆ ), which when treated by either incineration or water washing can generate harmful F‐ and P‐containing substances such as hydrofluoric acid (HF). In this study, an innovative two‐step process is presented to separate and purify both the solvents and lithium salts from the spent electrolyte. Antisolvent assisted precipitation is used to selectively isolate LiPF ₆ salt in the form of a complex with ethylene carbonate. Subsequent distillation then separates the volatile electrolyte solvents and antisolvent from each other effectively. In addition, a new process to further purify LiPF ₆ from its ethylene carbonate (EC) complex is also presented. This electrolyte recycling method not only enables the recovery of the high‐value LiPF ₆ salt and the electrolyte solvents, but also paves the way for environmentally responsible and circular LIB recycling.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 2543149

Journal Information:: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials; ISSN 1614-6832

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Germany

Language:: English

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