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Chemical Engineering Seminar

Lisha Dong

Research Associate

Western Australian School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering,

Kalgoorlie Campus, Curtin University

Abstract

The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can not only reduce the potential harm caused by solid waste piles to the local environment but also provide raw materials for manufacturing new batteries. Flotation is an alternative approach to achieve the selective separation of cathode and anode materials from spent LIBs. However, the presence of organic binder on the surface of hydrophilic lithium transition-metal oxides results in losses of cathode materials in the froth phase. In this study, plasma treatment was utilized to remove organic layers from cathode and anode materials. Differences in the flotation recoveries of cathode and anode materials were enhanced with plasma modification prior to flotation, which is consistent with the contact angle measurement. Flotation separation selectivity index (SI) was increased from 2.41 to 4.28 by plasma modifications. The plasma-modification mechanisms of hydrophobicity of cathode and anode materials were discussed according to Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The proposed method could be a promising tool to enhance the flotation separation efficiency of cathode and anode materials for the recycling of spent LIBs.

Bio

Dr. Lisha Dong currently works as a Research Associate in the Western Australian School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Kalgoorlie Campus, Curtin University. She works with colleagues on various mining industry projects in partnership with BHP and Venture Minerals. She also engages with international researchers from institutions such as China University of Mining and Technology, Central South University, and Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. Dr. Dong was awarded her PhD in Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Queensland. She completed her Master of Philosophy degree at the University of Sydney. Her current research focuses on advanced beneficiation technologies for fine and ultrafine particles as well as pyrometallurgy. She is also dedicated to the recycling and reutilization of solid wastes for renewable energy generation, with a commitment to sustainable development. To date, she has contributed to 21 journal papers and 3 conference papers.