Repositório do LNEG
Repositório Científico do Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia
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Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling by Physical Processing: Evaluation of Recovery and Metal Content in Shredding and Sieving Operations
Publication . Nogueira, Carlos; Margarido, Fernanda; Neiva Correia, Maria Joana; Pedrosa, Fátima; Plancha, Maria João; Gonçalves, Ana
ABSTRACT: Recycling of spent Li-ion batteries is essential for the sustainable management of critical raw materials for battery production. The pre-metallurgical steps, involving shredding and physical processing, are important operations for separation and concentration of the electrode powders constituting the black mass. This paper presents a laboratorial study of the shredding of pouch-type LIB cells to assess the efficiency of liberation of the powders of electrode materials, envisaging their recovery. The particle size distribution and the elemental chemical analysis of the main metals in the cathode materials (Li, Ni, Co, Mn) as well as the main contaminants (Al, Cu) allowed to assess the recovery yields and purity of the fine fraction obtained in the sieving operation. The results showed that the cell casings (aluminum laminate) were essentially present in the coarser sizes (8–10 mm). Cathode metals were mainly in the intermediate and fine fraction, both as liberated particles and as particles within Al foil (thus, not liberated). Several scenarios for separation of cathode powders were studied. The main conclusion is that, by using a separation sieve of 0.5 mm, it is possible to recover 44% of the cathode materials with low contamination of Al and Cu (with contents 0.6% and 3.7%, respectively). This is a good achievement when considering simple shredding and sieving operations. Higher recoveries would need more grinding steps and other physical processing operations.
Protic Imidazolium Ionic Liquids for Electroreduction of CO2
Publication . Messias, Sofia; Paninho, A. B.; Pires, Carolina; Rangel, Carmen M.; Martins, Rodrigo; Mendes, Manuel Joao; Branco, Luis; Machado, Ana
ABSTRACT: Protic ionic liquids characterized by permutable protons have important applications in electrochemistry. This work represents an unprecedented report of the use of such electrolytes for CO2 electroreduction (ECR) into CO at 10 bar and near room temperature (45 degrees C) on zinc electrodes. It was observed that when protic ILs are synthesized from strong acids, the competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction increases. In contrast, the use of softer acids in the synthesis significantly enhances CO production. Imidazolium-based protic ILs were chosen due to their known high CO2 solubility and consequently their potential to increase reaction productivity. The electrolytes were electrochemically characterized, their conductivities and diffusion coefficients were determined, and their performance was compared. Despite the aqueous nature of the electrolyte, remarkably, 100% Faradaic efficiencies were obtained with [HMIM][Lac] containing 50 wt % water. The performance of the aqueous protic 50 wt % [HMIM][Lac] electrolyte surpassed the performance of the non-protic 50 wt % [EMIM][OTf] electrolyte. Furthermore, among the investigated water concentrations, the maximum CO production for the protic 50 wt % [HMIM][Lac] (177 & micro;mol/cm2) is of the same order as the magnitude of 90 wt % [EMIM][OTf] (271 & micro;mol/cm2), an almost pure IL, more expensive, and less sustainable electrolyte. The non-fluorinated bio-based lactate anion concurs to the higher sustainability of the process. Hydrophilic protic ILs are thus promising as electrolytes for ECR.
Optimised photocatalytic H2 production using nanostructured low cost and sustainable photocatalysts
Publication . Esteves, M. Alexandra; Brites, Maria João de Sousa; Capelo, Anabela; Pinheiro, Carla I.C.; Lanham, Ana; Ramos, Diana; Pedro, Guilherme
ABSTRACT: The SPECTRUM project aims to design, develop, prototype, and test lab-scale solar collectors that effectively utilise the entire solar spectrum to cogenerate heat, electricity and hydrogen. SPECTRUM Work package 1 is dedicated to the optimization of the photocatalytic process of industrial wastewater (IWW) treatment and hydrogen generation and is divided in four tasks. This deliverable D1.3 provides an account of the activities carried out in Task 1.3, “Optimization of Photocatalytic H₂ Production Process at Laboratory Scale,” as well as the results achieved during its duration. The photocatalysts developed in Task 1.2, “Development of nanostructured low cost and sustainable photocatalyst”, were tested for hydrogen production in a slurry type batch reactor using UV radiation as light source. In these preliminary assays, synthetic aqueous solutions containing ethanol or glycerol as sacrificial agent (SA) were used to test the performance of a first series of copper decorated TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) photocatalysts. A comprehensive series of experiments enabled the selection of the most effective photocatalyst, Cu-decorated TiO2 nanoparticles with 6 weight % of copper (Cu/TNP-6). This photocatalyst was then utilized with aqueous solutions of ethanol or glycerol to optimize three key operational parameters — pH, photocatalyst concentration, and sacrificial agent concentration. The same methodology was subsequently applied to evaluate the performance of two additional copper-based photocatalyst sets developed in Task 1.2: copper-decorated TiO₂ nanotubes and copper/biochar-decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles.
Development of nanostructured sustainable photocatalysts for industrial wastewater remediation with co-generation of H2
Publication . Esteves, M. Alexandra; Brites, Maria João de Sousa; Capelo, Anabela; Pasquini, Luca; Mazzaro, Raffaello
ABSTRACT: The SPECTRUM project aims to design, develop, prototype, and test lab-scale solar collectors that effectively utilize the entire solar spectrum to cogenerate heat, electricity and hydrogen using industrial wastewater. This report presents the results of the activities developed in Task 1.2 Development of nanostructured low cost and sustainable photocatalysts of SPECTRUM’s Work Package 1, Optimization of the photocatalytic process of wastewater treatment and hydrogen generation. One of the Specific Objectives (SO1) of the SPECTRUM project is to develop low cost and sustainable nanostructured photocatalysts for synergetic pollutants degradation and H2 generation. With this goal, nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalysts were developed using copper as an efficient and economical co-catalyst, suitable for large-scale hydrogen production systems. Two series of copper-decorated TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized, one based on TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) (Series I) and another based on TiO2 nanotubes (NT) (Series II).
D4.1: NECP Man0EUvRE vision: Analyses of the NECPs of the considered countries
Publication . Charousset-Brignol, Sandrine; Calmels, Marie-Ann Evans; Arvesen, Anders; Kaltsas, Ilias; Kirkil, Gokhan; Gutjahr, Sandra Franziska; T.Szabó, Ágnes Csilla; Kochems, Johannes; Nienhaus, Kristina; Eschmann, Jonas; Baldauf, Thomas; Moskalenko, Nikita; Mantilla, Carlos; Lechón, Yolanda; Couto, António; Sousa, Viviane; Graça, Pedro; Mathisen, Siri; Estanqueiro, Ana
ABSTRACT: The development of the energy system at both national and European levels requires effective coordination between national and European energy transition plans, to ensure consistency. The overall aim of this project is to improve and coordinate energy system modelling across Europe and provide open scientific evidence and research-based results that facilitate ambitious emissions reductions for a clean energy transition (CET), while incorporating the measures suggested in REPowerEU and recent policy suggestions of the Fit for 55 package and the Net Zero Industrial act. The objectives of Man0EUvRE are: 1. To develop robust pathways for the European energy system that meet climate targets towards net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consider current policies like the REPowerEU plan. 2. To provide feedback and advice to the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the individual EU countries. 3. To improve a set of models for conducting energy transition studies at both European and national level, which can support NECP generation, evaluation and future updates. 4. To publish consistent energy system modelling datasets and scenario projections at both European and national level. 5. To strengthen the coordination between national energy plans and EU-wide transition goals. As part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package, the EU member states have submitted national energy and climate plans (NECP) covering the period 2021-2030 and addressing how the country will work towards the binding targets common for the EU. NECPs are conducted in each member state individually, each one having its own representation of European strategies and pathways. One objective of Man0EuvRE was then to evaluate the current available NECPs or equivalent for countries included in Man0EuvRE, to develop a methodology for how Man0EUvRE models can be used in NECP analyses and how national results could be replicated to other countries, to communicate with stakeholders and to develop advice and recommendations to the NECP responsible in each country.