BIOLEACHING OF SPENT LITHIUM NICKEL MANGANESE COBALT OXIDE BATTERY USING PANTOEA SEPTICA STRAIN SKC/SAA-3 BACTERIA WITH VARIATIONS IN PULP DENSITY AND MEDIUM COMPOSTITION

• Main Author: Septricia Yulantri Karuh, Clara
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/85494
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

With the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the disposal of spent batteries has become a pressing environmental concern. Currently, the recycling rate of LIBs is relatively low worldwide. Nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) is a prevalent type of LIB containing valuable metals such as lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co), which are essential in numerous industrial applications. Recycling these valuable metals can mitigate environmental impacts and address the rising demand for metallic resources. Bioleaching, a microbialmediated process for metal extraction, presents an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. This research aimed to assess the capability of Pantoea septica strain SKC/SAA-3 in bioleaching spent NMC batteries by manipulating pulp density and media composition. A series of experiments were conducted involving the preparation of spent NMC batteries through discharging in seawater, drying, dismantling, chopping, and sieving. Bacterial cultivation was carried out for 50 hours, followed by bacterial adaptation using 5% blackmass and 10% inoculum. The bioleaching medium was composed of 4 g/L glucose, 5 g/L Na2S2O3.5H2O, 0.5 g/L K2HPO4, 0.5 g/L MgSO4.7H2O, 0.1 g/L KCl, 6.5 g/L FeSO4.7H2O, and 3 g/L (NH4)2SO4. The influence of pulp density (5%, 10%, and 20%) on bioleaching efficiency was investigated. Additionally, the media composition was modified by adding various combinations of pyrite and molasses, sulfur and molasses, also pyrite, sulfur, and molasses. Bioleaching was performed for 10 days using a rotary shaker, and samples were collected every 24 hours. The concentration of dissolved metals was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results revealed that lower pulp density enhanced bioleaching efficiency. At a pulp density of 5%, the cumulative extraction of Li, Mn, Ni, and Co reached 97.68%, 94.72%, 89.97%, and 96.71%, respectively. The addition of nutrients to the medium generally improved bioleaching, with a combination of pyrite and molasses yielding the highest metal extraction, achieving 93.82% for Li, 90.01% for Mn, 94.85% for Ni, and 84.01% for Co.