Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag

Slag products resulting from the pyrometallurgical recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) exhibit considerable potential as a secondary source of raw materials, particularly regarding the critical element lithium. Similar to ore processing, comminution is the primary method for liberating lithium...

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Main Authors: Sima Hellmers, Hao Qiu, Bengi Yagmurlu, Arno Kwade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Cleaner Engineering and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082400137X
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author Sima Hellmers
Hao Qiu
Bengi Yagmurlu
Arno Kwade
author_facet Sima Hellmers
Hao Qiu
Bengi Yagmurlu
Arno Kwade
author_sort Sima Hellmers
collection DOAJ
description Slag products resulting from the pyrometallurgical recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) exhibit considerable potential as a secondary source of raw materials, particularly regarding the critical element lithium. Similar to ore processing, comminution is the primary method for liberating lithium-bearing phases. This study examines the impact of milling parameters on the separation behavior of lithium-containing phases prior to hydrometallurgical treatments for recovery. The selection of grinding conditions is determined by the characteristics of the targeted particles. Consequently, a range of separation methods were investigated based on the mineralogical properties of the slag, with froth flotation proving the most promising approach. A roller mill was used for grinding. In order to determine the optimal particle size and milling settings, the milling parameters of the roller gap size, circumferential speed, and mass flow of the material fed (feeding rate of the mill) were varied across different feed particle ranges.The results demonstrate that a recovery rate of 70% can be achieved for lithium-containing phases, notably lithium aluminate. However, the recovery rate was found to reach 82% through adjustments of the milling parameters of a roller mill implemented in the study. Thus, it can be concluded that the grinding parameters not only affect the comminution processes and their energy consumption, but also the particle morphology and flotation behavior. Therefore, an optimal mechanical pre-treatment of the slags enables an increase recovery of lithium in the recycling of LIBs and a decreasing the requirement of primary sources, both of which contribute to the circular economy.
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spelling doaj-art-04b3614b3a4d4e41b0cc2ea71e11d3ce2025-08-20T02:48:57ZengElsevierCleaner Engineering and Technology2666-79082025-02-012410085710.1016/j.clet.2024.100857Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slagSima Hellmers0Hao Qiu1Bengi Yagmurlu2Arno Kwade3Institute for Particle Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Corresponding author.Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Recycling and Circular Economy Systems, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, GermanyInstitute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Recycling and Circular Economy Systems, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, GermanyInstitute for Particle Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, GermanySlag products resulting from the pyrometallurgical recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) exhibit considerable potential as a secondary source of raw materials, particularly regarding the critical element lithium. Similar to ore processing, comminution is the primary method for liberating lithium-bearing phases. This study examines the impact of milling parameters on the separation behavior of lithium-containing phases prior to hydrometallurgical treatments for recovery. The selection of grinding conditions is determined by the characteristics of the targeted particles. Consequently, a range of separation methods were investigated based on the mineralogical properties of the slag, with froth flotation proving the most promising approach. A roller mill was used for grinding. In order to determine the optimal particle size and milling settings, the milling parameters of the roller gap size, circumferential speed, and mass flow of the material fed (feeding rate of the mill) were varied across different feed particle ranges.The results demonstrate that a recovery rate of 70% can be achieved for lithium-containing phases, notably lithium aluminate. However, the recovery rate was found to reach 82% through adjustments of the milling parameters of a roller mill implemented in the study. Thus, it can be concluded that the grinding parameters not only affect the comminution processes and their energy consumption, but also the particle morphology and flotation behavior. Therefore, an optimal mechanical pre-treatment of the slags enables an increase recovery of lithium in the recycling of LIBs and a decreasing the requirement of primary sources, both of which contribute to the circular economy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082400137XComminution of slagCompressive stressMilling parametersFroth flotationParticle formLithium recovery
spellingShingle Sima Hellmers
Hao Qiu
Bengi Yagmurlu
Arno Kwade
Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
Cleaner Engineering and Technology
Comminution of slag
Compressive stress
Milling parameters
Froth flotation
Particle form
Lithium recovery
title Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
title_full Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
title_fullStr Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
title_full_unstemmed Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
title_short Modifying milling parameters: Impact on selective separation of lithium-rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
title_sort modifying milling parameters impact on selective separation of lithium rich phases in a thermodynamically designed battery slag
topic Comminution of slag
Compressive stress
Milling parameters
Froth flotation
Particle form
Lithium recovery
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082400137X
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AT bengiyagmurlu modifyingmillingparametersimpactonselectiveseparationoflithiumrichphasesinathermodynamicallydesignedbatteryslag
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