SYNTHESIS OF ION-SELECTIVE MEMBRANES FOR SEPARATION OF LITHIUM FROM CO-IONS

• Grant number: 24/04451-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa
• Grantee: Débora de Oliveira Fernandes
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/11866-5 - Development of innovative processes for the recovery of critical metals, AP.TEM

Abstract

With the growth of the electric cars market, vehicles powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the interest for lithium and its obtention have increased. Other than the batteries, Li is widely applied in different sectors, such as greases, ceramics and glass, in the pharmaceutical industry and in the primary aluminum production. As a result, there is a high demand for the element and a concern about the depletion of its sources. The primary lithium extraction is mainly done from brine, in countries such as Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, or from rocks, in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States. The processing of brine and rocks results in lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, the main forms used industrially. The secondary extraction is done from recycling lithium-ion batteries. This study aims to develop a tool that facilitates the extraction of lithium from recycled lithium-ion batteries. In processing, one of the essential steps is the separation of lithium, which can be done using various techniques, such as ion exchange resins, solvent extraction, precipitation and membranes. In this work, the technique in focus will be membranes, which has applications such as: ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and electrodialysis. This study aims to synthesize a membrane that can be applied commercially, mainly in battery recycling.