Thermodynamic study for the recovery of lithium and cobalt from waste batteries

Lithium and cobalt are a fundamental raw material for the manufacture of portable batteries, widely used in mobile phones, laptops, electric cars, etc., due to their properties in the accumulation of electrical energy. While it takes approximately 250,000 kg of lithium ore or 750,000 kg of brine to extract 1,000 kg of lithium, it takes only 28,000 kg of discarded lithiumion batteries to obtain the same amount of metal. For this reason, this project seeks to improve and optimize the recycling process through the selective precipitation of lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co) from ammonium oxalate (NH₄)₂C₂O₄ and sodium carbonate Na₂CO₃, through a detailed study of variables such as reagent concentration, pH and temperature. This will be achieved through thermodynamic simulations, with the aim of maximizing the recovery of lithium and cobalt from discarded batteries