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2026 Vol.35, Issue 4 Preview Page
Production of Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide from Recycled Lithium Carbonate via Anti-Solvent Crystallization

항용매 결정화를 통한 재활용 탄산리튬으로부터 배터리용 수산화리튬 제조

Jea Hyung Kim1
,
Ji Hyeon Lee1
,
Hyun Seon Hong2*
김 재형1
,
이 지현1
,
홍 현선2*
1Department of Next-generation Applied Science, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul 01133 Republic of Korea
2Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul 01133 Republic of Korea
1성신여자대학교 미래응용과학학과
2성신여자대학교 청정신소재공학과
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2026. pp. 87-99
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Abstract

This study investigates a process for synthesizing lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH·H2O) and anhydrous lithium hydroxide (LiOH) using lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) recovered via a supercritical method as the starting material. Evaporative crystallization and anti-solvent crystallization methods were compared in terms of crystal phase, particle morphology, impurity removal efficiency, and phase transformation behavior after heat treatment. In the samples prepared via evaporative crystallization, peaks corresponding to Li2CO3, LiOH, and LiOH·H2O were observed, indicating the possibility of carbonation and mixed-phase formation owing to CO2 reabsorption during the crystallization process. In contrast, the samples obtained via anti-solvent crystallization predominantly comprised a single LiOH·H2O phase, with no pronounced carbonate-related peaks detected. This suggests that the anti-solvent crystallization method may serve as an effective alternative process to mitigate Li2CO3 reformation during crystallization. Furthermore, particle size and morphology varied depending on the anti-solvent injection rate. Thermal treatment confirmed the phase transition from LiOH·H2O to anhydrous LiOH. ICP-OES analysis revealed a reduction in major impurities such as Fe, Na, and Si, and a process yield of approximately 76.5% was achieved by the anti-solvent crystallization method. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of anti-solvent crystallization in suppressing carbonation, controlling particle morphology, and facilitating phase transformation during battery-use LiOH production from recovered Li2CO3. These findings provide fundamental insights into the production of battery-use LiOH from recovered Li2CO3.

Keywords
lithium carbonate (Li2CO3)
lithium hydroxide (LiOH)
evaporative crystallization
anti-solvent crystallization

본 연구에서는 초임계 방법으로 회수된 탄산리튬(Li2CO3)을 출발물질로 사용하여 수산화리튬 수화물(LiOH·H2O) 및 무수 수산화리튬 (LiOH)을 제조하는 공정을 연구하였다. 증발 결정화법과 항용매 결정화법을 비교하여 결정상, 입자 형상, 불순물 제거 효과 및 열처리 후 상 변화를 분석하였다. 증발 결정화법으로 제조된 시료에서는 LiOH·H2O와 함께 Li2CO3 및 LiOH 관련 피크가 관찰되어, 결정화 과정 중 CO2 재흡수에 의한 탄산화 및 혼합상 형성 가능성이 확인되었다. 반면, 항용매 결정화법으로 제조된 시료에서는 주로 LiOH·H2O 단일상이 확인되었으며, 탄산염 관련 피크가 뚜렷하게 나타나지 않았다. 이는 항용매 결정화법이 증발 결정화 과정에서 발생할 수 있는 Li2CO3 재형성 문제를 완화할 수 있는 대안적 공정으로 활용될 가능성을 보여준다. 또한 항용매 주입 속도에 따라 입자 크기와 형상이 변화하였으며, 열처리를 통해 LiOH·H2O가 무수 LiOH로 전환됨을 확인하였다. ICP-OES 분석 결과, Fe, Na, Si 등 주요 불순물의 함량이 감소하였고, 항용매 결정화법을 통해 약 76.5%의 수율을 확보하였다. 본 연구는 회수 Li2CO3으로부터 배터리용 LiOH를 제조하는 과정에서 항용매 결정화 공정이 탄산화 억제, 입자 형상 제어 및 상 전환 유도에 효과적으로 활용될 수 있음을 보여준다. 이러한 결과는 회수 탄산리튬 기반 배터리용 수산화리튬 제조 공정의 설계 및 품질 제어를 위한 기초 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

키워드
탄산리튬(Li2CO3)
수산화리튬(LiOH)
증발 결정화법
항용매 결정화법
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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 :4
  • Pages :87-99
  • Received Date : 2026-06-11
  • Revised Date : 2026-07-14
  • Accepted Date : 2026-07-24
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2026.35.4.87
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