No abstract

Cobalt (Co) and lithium (Li), rare and valuable elements, are mainly used to prepare lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) for applications in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Developing an effective method to recover Co and Li from the waste LIBs is of great significance. In the present study, Co and Li were extracted from pure LiCoO2 powders and the extracted cathode materials powders from the waste LIBs after acid dissolution via a mechanochemical reduction process with iron powders. For pure LiCoO2 powders, the effects of Fe to LiCoO2 mass ratio, rotation speed, and mechanochemical reduction time were examined. These parameters influenced positively the extraction of Co, while they showed negligible effects on the leaching of Li. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses indicated a promoted extraction of Li arising from the reduction of particle sizes, magnification of specific surface area, and change of the crystal structure of particles. For high-efficiency leaching of Co by the mechanochemical reduction process with iron powders, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated the changes in the valence state of Co. The actual cathode materials disassembled from the wasted LIBs pretreated by this novel mechanochemical reduction process were also explored. The results indicated that the leaching ratios of Li, Co, Mn, and Ni could reach 77.15%, 91.25%, 100%, and 99.9%, respectively. This novel mechanochemical process would be of great importance for the recovery of valuable metals from waste LIBs.

An efficient and green advanced oxidation process (i.e., photo-sulfite reaction) for the simultaneous oxidation of sulfite and organic pollutants in water is reported. The photo-sulfite system (UV-Fe(III)-sulfite) is based on the Fe-catalyzed sulfite oxidation and photochemistry of Fe(III) species. SO4(•-) and (•)OH radicals were identified in the photo-sulfite system with radical scavenging experiments using specific alcohols. This novel technology was consistently proven to be more favorable than the alternative Fe(III)-sulfite systems for the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) and other organic pollutants at all conditions tested. The reactivity of photo-sulfite system was sustained due to the spontaneous switch of photoactive species from Fe(III)-sulfito to Fe(III)-hydroxo complexes with the depletion of sulfite and the decrease in pH. In contrast, in the absence of light the performance of the Fe(III)-sulfite system was greatly diminished after the consumption of sulfite. The formation of the Fe(III)-sulfito complex is a necessary step for initiating the photo-sulfite reaction. Inhibition of the oxidation of 2,4,6-TCP and methyl orange (MO) was observed in the presence of ligands that can stabilize one or more of the reactants: Fe(III), Fe(II), or sulfite. Our study provides a new facile route for the generation of SO4(•-) and simultaneous removal of organic and inorganic pollutants.

No abstract

No abstract