Ms. Chaehyeon Lee

PhD Candidate

Seoul National University

My research focuses on developing separation processes to extract valuable metal resources from spent batteries. As the demand for lithium-ion batteries has been rapidly increasing in recent years, finding sustainable sources of raw materials has become essential. Also, the generation of battery waste is on the rise. Therefore, recycling metals from battery waste is necessary to reduce environmental burden and establish a sustainable resource cycle. To begin with, I have studied the leaching step, which involves dissolving metal ions from spent batteries so that they can be further purification and recovery steps. Leaching is typically carried out using acidic or alkaline solutions to extract the desired metal ions into the liquid phase. My work has focused on identifying more efficient and economical leaching methods. As a result, I published a review paper on chemical leaching approaches and conducted a cost analysis of the leaching process. Additionally, I discovered specific acid leaching conditions that enable selective leaching, making it possible to selectively extract lithium and nickel from battery waste. In the subsequent purification stages, I applied electrochemical separation methods. In particular, I developed a process in which lithium and nickel present in the leaching solution can be efficiently separated and recovered—lithium by electrosorption and nickel by electrodeposition. I also conducted a life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impact of the overall process. Through my research, I aim not only for technological innovation in battery recycling, but also to promote the development of effective technologies by considering environmental and social aspects.