Co-Leaching of Li, Fe, Al, and Cu from Active Materials of LFP Batteries

Co-leaching of the cathode and anode materials of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries was studied. It was determined that the nature of mineral acid (nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric) affects the degree of leaching of Li, Fe, Al, and Cu. Hydrochloric acid was chosen as the most suitable leaching agent. The effect of the following parameters of the leaching of active materials was investigated: process duration, temperature, hydrochloric acid concentration, and solid : liquid ratio. For complete leaching of copper, hydrogen peroxide was used as an oxidizing agent. The conditions for the most complete extraction of target elements were found to be 25°C, 2 h, 2 M hydrochloric acid solution, 0.05 M H2O2 solution, solid : liquid ratio 1 : 50. The possibility of sufficiently complete leaching of the main elements from spent LFP batteries at room temperature was demonstrated.