Purification of Waste Electrolyte from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries via Vacuum Filtration and Solvent Extraction: A Preliminary Study

Jaehyuk Chang; Junhee Kim; Yeonyoung Yoon; Seungtaek Hong; Jaewoo Ahn

doi:10.7844/kirr.2026.35.5.65

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2026 Vol.35, Issue 5 Preview Page Next Page

Research Paper

Purification of Waste Electrolyte from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries via Vacuum Filtration and Solvent Extraction: A Preliminary Study 진공여과 및 용매추출을 기반으로 하는 폐리튬배터리 전해액 정제 기초 연구

31 October 2026. pp. 65-75

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Abstract

The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems has heightened the need for safe treatment and resource recovery of spent lithium-ion batteries. This study investigated a preliminary purification process to recover organic solvents and valuable components from spent electrolytes collected during battery dismantling and pretreatment. The electrolyte mixture was separated into the filtration residue, condensate, and filtrate using vacuum filtration. Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) were partially recovered from the condensate. The filtration residue served as a feed material for subsequent metal recovery, while the organic components in the filtrate were separated by solvent extraction using dichloromethane (DCM). These results demonstrate the feasibility of an integrated process that combines vacuum filtration and solvent extraction to recover components from spent lithium-ion battery electrolytes.

Keywords

Lithium-ion batteries

Electrolyte recycling

Vacuum filtration

Dichloromethane

Solvent extraction

전기자동차 및 에너지저장장치의 보급 확대에 따라 폐리튬이온배터리의 안전한 처리와 자원 회수가 중요해지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 폐배터리 해체 및 전처리 과정에서 수집된 폐전해액으로부터 유기용매와 유가성분을 회수하기 위한 기초 정제 공정을 검토하였다. 폐전해액 혼합물을 감압 여과하여 여과잔사, 응축액 및 여과액으로 분리하였으며, 응축액에서 디메틸카보네이트(dimethyl carbonate, DMC)와 에틸메틸카보네이트(ethyl methyl carbonate, EMC)를 일부 회수하였다. 여과 잔사는 후속 금속 회수 공정의 원료로 활용하고, 여과액은 디클로로메탄(dichloromethane, DCM)을 이용한 용매추출로 유기성분을 분리하였다. 본 연구 결과는 감압 여과와 용매추출을 연계한 폐전해액 구성성분 회수 공정의 적용 가능성을 제시한다.

키워드

리튬이온배터리

전해액 재활용

감압 여과

디클로로메탄

용매추출

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
Journal Title :Resources Recycling
Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
Volume : 35
No :5
Pages :65-75
Received Date : 2026-08-03
Revised Date : 2026-09-28
Accepted Date : 2026-10-01
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2026.35.5.65

Resources Recycling ISSN:2765-3439(Print) 2765-3447(Online) 자원리싸이클링

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