Public defence in Chemical Engineering, M.Sc.(Tech.) Jere Partinen

The title of the thesis: Leaching of lithium-ion battery materials in sulfate and chloride media for hydrometallurgical recycling

Thesis defender: Jere Partinen
Opponent: Associate professor Sulalit Bandyopadhyay, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Custos: Associate professor Mari Lundström, Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

As a result of the worldwide attempt to phase out fossil fuels and implement cleaner technologies, batteries are becoming increasingly important. One of the most obvious effects of this green transition in everyday life has been the rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles over the past few years. Li-ion batteries used in these vehicles contain high concentrations of valuable materials, many of which are classified as critical. To ensure the circulation of these materials back to reuse after End-of-Life, efficient recycling is necessary.

This thesis studies leaching as a method to recycle lithium-ion batteries. Leaching experiments were performed in sulfate and chloride media, using both pure commercial battery cathode chemicals and industrially processed battery waste – black mass – originating from End-of-Life batteries. The use of pure chemicals in conjunction with industrial battery waste allowed for the investigation of fundamental phenomena associated with battery cathode materials leaching while also considering the various other components contained within black mass.

Experiments with these raw materials provided insight into the various leaching reactions with respect to leaching in sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. Results also showed various benefits related to the use of metallic Cu and Al – metals originating from battery current collectors and commonly found within industrial battery waste – as reductants toward battery cathode materials. This thesis can benefit both industry and academia in the field of battery recycling by providing detailed information about the phenomena taking place during black mass leaching in battery recycling processes.

Keywords: Lithium-ion battery recycling, Reductants, Sulfate–chloride media, Black mass

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/doc_public/eonly/riiputus/

Contact details:
Jere Partinen
jere.partinen@aalto.fi
 

Doctoral theses in the School of Chemical Engineering: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/51