A Study on the Treatment and Recovery of Sodium Sulfate (Na₂SO₄) Generated When Recovering Valuable Metals (Ni, Co, Mn, Li) from Waste Lithium Ion Batteries(LIBs)

Abstract

Concerns have arisen regarding the high concentrations of sodium sulfate in wastewater resulting from the waste Li-ion battery wet recycling process. In addressing this issue, Bipolar electrodialysis was employed to desalinate high-concentration sodium sulfate and recover it as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. The investigation encompassed various experimental variables, such as applied voltage (maintained at a constant level), feed solution concentration, the initial concentrations of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, and volume ratio (F/A/B). Optimal conditions were determined by assessing water migration (%), the recovery rates (%) of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, concentration of the recovered substances, process time, and energy consumption. A higher applied voltage was found to reduce process time while increasing energy consumption, with the 25 V condition considered preferable. When utilizing a high-concentration feed solution, energy consumption rises; however, it decreases per unit of processed solution, rendering a 1.30 M Na₂SO₄ feed solution preferable. Increasing initial concentrations of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide substantially prolonged process time and increased energy consumption, emphasizing the advantage of commencing with low initial concentrations. Adjusting the volume ratio facilitated the concentration and recovery of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide with minimal impact on process time or energy consumption. Under the identified optimal conditions, the recovery of 1.70 M sulfuric acid and 2.44 M sodium hydroxide was achieved.