Recycling lithium batteries is not only a source of precious metals but also of important chemical compounds for industrial uses
An Innovative Solution for Recycling Lithium Batteries from Poland
Recycling lithium batteries can yield hydrogen peroxide, which is essential for numerous industrial uses and the aerospace sector. A team of Polish scientists discovered this and presented a promising solution in the journal ChemElectroChem.
The global use of lithium-ion batteries has doubled in the last four years, generating an increasing amount of waste containing hazardous substances. The need for effective methods to recycle these batteries is therefore becoming more urgent. The project carried out by the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology is based on extracting carbonaceous materials from the electrodes of exhausted lithium-ion batteries. The electrodes undergo an acid leaching process to recover precious metals such as cobalt, which is often used in catalytic processes. The goal is to reuse the battery materials for the electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide, a substance essential for many industries.
More commonly known as hydrogen peroxide, this compound requires expensive catalysts and high pressures for large-scale production. The Polish method is more sustainable because it uses catalysts derived from used batteries.
How Lithium Battery Recycling Becomes a Source of Hydrogen Peroxide
Electrochemical tests have shown that materials recovered from lithium batteries possess catalytic properties for the oxygen reduction reaction, which is crucial for obtaining hydrogen peroxide. The key to success lies in the ability of these materials to facilitate a specific reduction of the oxygen molecule. Determining the number of electrons involved in the reaction is fundamental. When four electrons are involved, the result is the production of water. With two, hydrogen peroxide is produced.
Positive results have been confirmed by experiments simulating industrial conditions. The catalyzed samples produced hydrogen peroxide in concentrations one to two times higher than conventional systems. This is excellent news, demonstrating that exhausted lithium batteries are not only a source of precious metals but can also be used as catalysts to produce important chemical compounds.
Possible Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 3% is sold in pharmacies as a disinfectant for wounds and inflammations. Solutions with concentrations up to 15% work as bleaches in household cleaning products and cosmetics. When the concentration rises to 30%, it is used in chemical production, in the textile, paper, and rubber industries. It also yields good results in electronics, metallurgy, and food processing (as a biocidal substance). At concentrations around 98%, it can become an eco-friendly propellant for the aerospace sector. Future research will focus specifically on this field.
