(245c) Electrochemical Reactor for Lithium-Ion Battery Leaching: Differential Model and Simulation

The leaching of solids in suspension often involves redox surface reactions that require the use of harsh reductants or oxidants. Electrochemical leaching is a more sustainable alternative that involves the use of redox mediators which are not consumed but are recycled electrochemically on an electrode surface. This process electrification strategy reduces the use of chemicals and allows pairing with renewable energy sources. This electrified process has been applied to the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), to help close their life cycle with more sustainable methods.

Idaho National Laboratory has developed a novel two-compartment electrochemical stirred reactor for the leaching of critical metals (Li, Co, Ni, Mn), with co-current recovery of copper, from spent LIB “black mass”, obtaining high efficiencies and fast kinetics at high pulp densities.

In this work, a differential equation for the leaching of LIB particles in the electrochemical reactor is presented. MATLAB was used to simulate the electric current and conversion profiles and compared with experimental data. A dimensionless version of the governing equation provides dimensionless numbers that are discussed as figures of merit for this type of reactor and their applicability for scale-up.