Enhancing Lithium Recovery from Slag Through Dry Forced Triboelectric Separation: A Sustainable Recycling Approach

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this paper, valuable components are recovered from slag powder by utilizing a dry forced triboelectric charging (FTC) method. The results show that this method effectively separates and enriches lithium aluminates, providing a sustainable solution for lithium-ion battery recycling. The content of the article is well structured, but there are still some details that need to be revised, as suggested below:

One: It is recommended that the authors revise some of the sentences in the abstract and keep the language simple and concise to improve the readability of the abstract. The introduction is too brief, the authors are encouraged to add some recent publications recommended in the reference section: (a) Jiajia Lu, Yanqiong Zhang, Weiwei Huang, Mamdouh Omran, Fan Zhang, Lei Gao, Chen Guo. Reductive roasting of cathode powder of spent ternary lithium-ion battery by pyrolysis of invasive plant Crofton weed. Renewable Energy. 2023-04, 206: 86-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.02.005. (b) Jiajia Lu, Chunlan Tian, Chunxiao Ren, Mamdouh Omran, Fan Zhang, Lei Gao, Guo Chen, Priority recovering of lithium from spent lithium-ion battery cathode powder by pyrolysis reduction of Bidens Pilosa, Volume 439, 1 February 2024, 140775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140775

Two: The conclusion of the abstract could place more emphasis on the main conclusions and applied value of the study so that the reader can quickly grasp the core contribution of the study.

Three: The article emphasizes the importance of lithium recycling, especially in the field of lithium-ion battery recycling. It is suggested that the authors further discuss in the introduction section the challenges facing current lithium recycling technologies and how the dry forced triboelectric charging (FTC) method used in this article can overcome these challenges.

Four: Figure 2(a) in the article overlaps with the picture, and it is recommended that the position of the figure sequence be adjusted to the left of the picture or placed below it.

Five: Figure 4 serial numbers (a) and (b) in the article are suggested to be formatted in a uniform way and also bolded.

Six: The environmental friendliness and sustainability of the recycling methods are emphasised in the article, and it is suggested that the authors further discuss the advantages of dry FTC technology in terms of environmental impacts, such as energy consumption, waste generation and operating costs.

Seven: It is proposed to unify the use of “Lithium Aluminate (LiAlO2)” in the text.

Eight: Authors are encouraged to review the format for referencing as outlined in Article 15.

I hope these suggestions will be well accepted by the authors.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English could be improved to more clearly express the research.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Triboelectric separation is a dry separation method that can be used for mineral and solid waste separation. The research work in this paper provides a new idea for Li-Slag powder separation. The reviewer suggested that the paper be published after revision. I hope the following suggestions will be helpful to the revision of the paper.

1.       The paper mentions forced triboelectric charging (FTC) method, what does forced mean？It's just triboelectric charging with the chute.

2.       It is suggested to supplement the electrical properties of mineral composition in slag, which is the theoretical basis of electric separation.

3.       In section 2.4.1. FTC process, it is mentioned that the device parameters and their influence on charging performance were studied in the previous research. Are the parameters of 1000 mm, from-12 to+12 kV and 0.53 g/min here the optimal parameters obtained in the previous research? 4. It is suggested to add to the last sentence the relationship between the results of previous studies and the parameters used in this paper.

4.       It is suggested that the authors discuss the strategies to improve the degree of enrichment, especially in optimizing separation efficiency of slag.

5.       It is suggested to add the literatures on triboelectric separation.

 

Author Response

 "Please see the attachment." 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Paper describes conditions and results of research work curried out on separation of lithium aluminate from other components of slag from pyro-treatment of Li-ion batteries. As a method of separation dry forced triboelectric charging in combination with electrostatic separation  was chosen. Results obtained proved effectiveness of this way of treatment giving hope of solving the problem of lithium recovery from material with so complicated mineral composition.

The paper clearly describes experiments performed, presents their results and discussion leading to final conclusions. Congratulations to the team of Authors.

 

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thank you for reviewing our manuscript.  

Best Regards,

Mehran Javadi

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

the author have been revised and answered all the question, it can be accept.