Do you know what production lines are included in a comprehensive hydrometallurgical recycling system for batteries?
1. Battery Slurry Acid Leaching Production Line
Both in-house produced and externally sourced ternary cathode and anode powders are leached using 98% sulfuric acid plus hydrogen peroxide. The primary leachate undergoes iron and aluminum removal, defluorination, and other purification processes before entering the battery slurry extraction system. The residue from the primary leaching is subjected to pulping, secondary leaching, and washing to produce crude graphite powder.
2. Battery Slurry Extraction Production Line
The purified primary leachate is treated with P204 to extract manganese, yielding a manganese stripping solution that feeds into the manganese sulfate production line. The residual liquid after manganese extraction is processed with P507 for cobalt extraction, producing a cobalt stripping solution for the cobalt salts production line. The remaining solution is again treated with P507 for nickel extraction, resulting in a nickel stripping solution for the nickel salts production line. The final nickel leachate is deoiled to obtain a lithium-sodium mixed solution for the lithium salts system.
3. Manganese Sulfate Production Line
Utilizing the manganese stripping solution (primarily manganese sulfate) from the battery slurry extraction line as feedstock, oil is removed, followed by copper and heavy metal removal to produce refined manganese sulfate solution. Some of this solution is used in the synthesis of ternary precursors, while the remainder is concentrated by evaporation, centrifuged, and separated to yield battery-grade manganese sulfate product.
4. Cobalt Salts Production Line
The cobalt stripping solution (mainly cobalt sulfate) from the battery slurry extraction line serves as the raw material. After cobalt purification with P204 and oil removal, a refined cobalt sulfate solution is obtained. Part of this solution is utilized in the synthesis of ternary precursors, while the rest is processed through cobalt precipitation and washing to generate crude cobalt carbonate product.
5. Nickel Salts Production Line
The nickel stripping solution (predominantly nickel sulfate) from the battery slurry extraction line is the starting material. Following nickel purification with P507 and oil removal, a refined nickel sulfate solution is created. A portion of this solution is used in the synthesis of ternary precursors, whereas the balance undergoes nickel precipitation and washing to produce crude nickel carbonate product.
This system ensures the efficient recovery and reuse of critical metals from spent batteries, contributing to a sustainable and circular economy.
