Thermodynamics of Vacuum Chloride Volatilization of Ni, Co, Mn, Li, Al, and Cu in Spent Lithium−Ion Battery

In recent years the chlorination leaching separation process in the field of hydrometallurgy has been developed considerably. However, the development of the chlorination separation process in the field of pyrometallurgy has lagged. In this paper, the thermodynamics of vacuum chlorination volatilization of valuable metals Ni, Co, Mn, Li, Al, and Cu from spent lithium−ion batteries is investigated, and it is found that chlorination helps to achieve the trapping and separation of the singlet metals. With the help of Factsage 8.1, a theoretical map of the stable regions of valuable metal chlorides, the order of separation of each chloride at 10 Pa, and a discussion of the behavior of excess CuCl2 in the system at different temperatures were determined. This paper provides research ideas in the fields of selective separation of alloying elements in the carbothermal reduction products of waste lithium−ion batteries and one−step separation of valuable metals by carbothermal reduction.