A Two-Stage Ionic Liquid-Assisted Process for High-Purity Lithium Recovery from Black Mass Leachate Using Deep Eutectic Solvent As A Green Digestor
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Rocío L. Pérez
Location
Russell Union 2080
Type of Research
On-going
Session Format
Oral Presentation
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Department
Center for Advanced Materials Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Abstract
The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery deployment in electric vehicles and grid storage systems has intensified the demand for sustainable recycling technologies to recover critical materials. Black mass, the fine particulate residue generated after mechanical processing of spent lithium-ion batteries, contains valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. This study proposes an integrated approach combining deep eutectic solvents (DES) for black mass digestion in combination with ionic liquids (ILs) for selective lithium recovery from the resulting leachate.
Deep eutectic solvents, formed from hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, provide low volatility, tunable, and environmentally favorable alternative to conventional mineral acids for metal leaching from the black mass. Their strong complexity and adjustable properties enable efficient breakdown of cathode materials and selective solubilization of target metals under moderate temperature conditions. Process parameters including DES composition, temperature, solid to liquid ratio, and digestion times are optimized to maximize lithium release while minimizing reagent consumption and secondary waste generation.
Following digestion, ILs are employed as task specific extractants to selectively separate lithium from co-dissolved transition metals. The customizable cation and anion combination of ILs allow tailored coordination environments that would enhance lithium partitioning on the IL phase and would avoid the co-extraction of cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Extraction efficiency, selectivity coefficients, and stripping performance are evaluated to assess process feasibility.
Preliminary findings suggest that coupling DES based digestion with IL extraction offers a promising, greener alternative to traditional hydrometallurgical routes, enabling high lithium recovery, improved selectivity, and reduced environmental impact in lithium-ion battery recycling.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 11:30 AM
End Date
4-23-2026 11:45 AM
Recommended Citation
Jorgensen, Kyle E., "A Two-Stage Ionic Liquid-Assisted Process for High-Purity Lithium Recovery from Black Mass Leachate Using Deep Eutectic Solvent As A Green Digestor" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 122.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/122
A Two-Stage Ionic Liquid-Assisted Process for High-Purity Lithium Recovery from Black Mass Leachate Using Deep Eutectic Solvent As A Green Digestor
Russell Union 2080
The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery deployment in electric vehicles and grid storage systems has intensified the demand for sustainable recycling technologies to recover critical materials. Black mass, the fine particulate residue generated after mechanical processing of spent lithium-ion batteries, contains valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. This study proposes an integrated approach combining deep eutectic solvents (DES) for black mass digestion in combination with ionic liquids (ILs) for selective lithium recovery from the resulting leachate.
Deep eutectic solvents, formed from hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, provide low volatility, tunable, and environmentally favorable alternative to conventional mineral acids for metal leaching from the black mass. Their strong complexity and adjustable properties enable efficient breakdown of cathode materials and selective solubilization of target metals under moderate temperature conditions. Process parameters including DES composition, temperature, solid to liquid ratio, and digestion times are optimized to maximize lithium release while minimizing reagent consumption and secondary waste generation.
Following digestion, ILs are employed as task specific extractants to selectively separate lithium from co-dissolved transition metals. The customizable cation and anion combination of ILs allow tailored coordination environments that would enhance lithium partitioning on the IL phase and would avoid the co-extraction of cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Extraction efficiency, selectivity coefficients, and stripping performance are evaluated to assess process feasibility.
Preliminary findings suggest that coupling DES based digestion with IL extraction offers a promising, greener alternative to traditional hydrometallurgical routes, enabling high lithium recovery, improved selectivity, and reduced environmental impact in lithium-ion battery recycling.
