Metal recovery from spent Li-ion and alkaline and Zn/C batteries

CARLA MARCOCCIA; MARIA VICTORIA GALLEGOS; MIGUEL A. PELUSO; JORGE E. SAMBETH; HORACIO J. THOMAS

Congreso; 6th International Conference on Science and Technology of Composite Materiasl (COMAT 2015); 2015

Manganese and zinc were recovered from spent alkaline and zinc?carbon batteries, and cobalt and lithium were recovered from spent Li-ion batteries, employing a biohydrometallurgy process. Batteries were cut and separate component and a powder containing metals were subjected to a leaching test using a bio-generated sulfuric acid produced in an air-lift bioreactor. After completion of the leaching stage the dissolved metals are recovered by chemical precipitation. Precipitation with KMnO4 recovers 90% of Mn in solution, and produces an oxide identified as α MnO2. The later addition of Na2CO3 precipitates ZnCO3. After calcination, a ZnO phase with wurtzite structure was formed. In Li-ion batteries, cobalt is recovered as CoC2O4, and after being calcined at 500 °C generates Co3O4. The lithium is recovered in the form of Li2CO3. The results show that MnOx and Co3O4 have an interesting performance as catalysts for elimination of VOCs.