How to extract Lithium from batteries (and cobalt as well) #chemistry #experiment #science #fire

Summary

In this educational video, the host demonstrates how to extract lithium salts from lithium-polymer batteries for a visually striking 'foser' fire. They begin by disassembling two types of batteries, focusing on the metal shell and mixed lithium cobalt oxide. After dissolving the oxide in diluted hydrochloric acid, they filter out the copper foil and graphite, which are not needed. The video then details the process of separating lithium from cobalt using oxalic acid, resulting in a pink cobalt oxalate precipitate. Despite challenges with impurities, the host successfully isolates lithium chloride, which produces a vibrant pink flame when heated, illustrating the presence of lithium.

Takeaways

• 🔬 The video demonstrates how to extract lithium salts from lithium-polymer batteries.
• 🔋 It's essential to use rechargeable electronics like old laptops or cameras that contain lithium.
• 🛠️ The process starts by removing the plastic casing and opening the battery to access the metal shell and internal components.
• 🧪 A mixture of lithium and cobalt oxide is found inside, which is the primary target for extraction.
• ⚠️ Safety is highlighted by mentioning the need to avoid fire hazards when handling the oxide.
• 🌐 The script references a Wikipedia page for the chemical composition and properties of the materials involved.
• 🔑 The separation of lithium from cobalt is achieved by dissolving the oxides in diluted hydrochloric acid.
• 🔬 A cobalt chloride complex forms, turning the solution red, indicating the presence of cobalt.
• 📊 The script describes an unsuccessful attempt at directly extracting lithium chloride by recrystallization due to insufficient lithium concentration.
• 🌐 The successful method involves boiling down the solution and using oxalic acid to precipitate cobalt oxalate, leaving lithium salts in solution.
• 🔥 A flam test is conducted to confirm the presence of lithium, which produces a pink coloration when heated.
• 🏺 The final step involves boiling down the solution to obtain solid lithium salts, which can be used for various applications.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the video?

The main objective of the video is to extract lithium salts from Lithium Polymer batteries and demonstrate the resulting lithium salts' flam color.

What types of batteries are used in the video?

The video uses two different types of Lithium Polymer batteries, which are found in rechargeable electronics like old laptops or cameras.

Why is it necessary to remove the plastic casing of the batteries?

The plastic casing is removed to be left with only the metal shell, which contains the roll with the mixed lithium Cobalt oxide needed for the extraction process.

What is the purpose of separating the copper foil with graphite from the oxides foil?

The copper foil with graphite is separated because it is not useful for the lithium extraction process and can be discarded.

Why is diluted hydrochloric acid used to dissolve the mixed oxide?

Diluted hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the mixed oxide to avoid fire hazards, as the oxide can make organic compounds in the foil take fire.

What causes the bright red coloration of the solution when the oxide is dissolved in hydrochloric acid?

The bright red coloration is due to the cobalt chloride complex with water.

Why doesn't the direct extraction of lithium chloride by recrystallization work in this case?

Direct extraction of lithium chloride by recrystallization doesn't work because there is not enough lithium compared to the amount of cobalt in the solution, preventing the salts from separating.

How is cobalt separated from the lithium salts in the solution?

Cobalt is separated by selectively precipitating Cobalt oxalate as a solid using oxalic acid, which results in a clear solution with the cobalt removed.

What is the significance of the pink color of the cobalt oxalate precipitate?

The pink color of the cobalt oxalate precipitate indicates the presence of cobalt in the solution, which is important for monitoring the separation process.

Why does the solution turn dark green turquoise after most of the oxalic acid is removed?

The solution turns dark green turquoise due to metal impurities such as nickel and manganese, which do not affect the flam color of lithium salts.

What is the final step to observe the flam color of the lithium salts?

The final step is to heat and mix the remaining solid lithium salts with ethanol, which results in a cool flam color.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Extracting Lithium Salts from Lithium-Polymer Batteries

This paragraph outlines the process of extracting lithium salts from lithium-polymer batteries. The video begins by introducing the project and the need for rechargeable batteries, which can be sourced from old electronics like laptops or cameras. The process involves removing the plastic casing to expose the metal shell and then opening it to access the roll containing the mixed lithium cobalt oxide. A copper foil with graphite is also present but is deemed useless for this purpose and is set aside. The mixed oxide contains not only lithium but also cobalt, and the video explains the use of diluted hydrochloric acid to dissolve the oxide. The reaction produces a bright red solution due to the cobalt chloride complex. The video also discusses an unsuccessful attempt to extract lithium chloride directly by recrystallization due to the low concentration of lithium compared to cobalt. The paragraph concludes with a mention of a more successful method to be demonstrated later.

05:01

🔥 Advanced Lithium Extraction and Flam Test

The second paragraph delves into the advanced stages of lithium extraction, focusing on the separation of cobalt from lithium using oxalic acid. The narrator demonstrates the selective precipitation of cobalt oxalate, which is more effective with oxalic acid compared to ammonium oxalate. The process involves dissolving the oxalic acid in water and adding it to the solution, resulting in a pink precipitate of cobalt oxalate. The narrator also addresses the chemical equilibrium and the insolubility of cobalt oxalate, which allows the reaction to proceed despite the presence of hydrochloric acid. After filtering and drying the cobalt oxalate, the remaining solution is boiled down to precipitate oxalic acid crystals. The narrator then discusses the appearance of a dark green turquoise color due to metal impurities and the decision to boil down the solution further to obtain a solid, which, when tested with a flam test, exhibits a characteristic pink coloration indicating the presence of lithium. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to like and subscribe, and a teaser for the next video.

Keywords

💡Lithium salts

Lithium salts are compounds that contain lithium ions. In the context of the video, the goal is to extract lithium salts from lithium-polymer batteries. This is a critical step as lithium salts are valuable for their use in various industries, including battery manufacturing. The script describes the process of extracting these salts by dissolving the battery components in hydrochloric acid.

💡Lithium-polymer batteries

Lithium-polymer batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium in a polymer electrolyte. The video focuses on extracting valuable materials from these batteries. They are commonly found in electronic devices like laptops and cameras, as mentioned in the script, which are sources for the raw materials needed for the extraction process.

💡Mixed lithium cobalt oxide

Mixed lithium cobalt oxide is a compound found within the batteries being processed in the video. It is a key component because it contains the lithium and cobalt that the video aims to extract. The script describes how this compound is separated from other battery components and how it reacts with hydrochloric acid to form a solution from which lithium can be extracted.

💡Hydrochloric acid

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid used in the video to dissolve the mixed lithium cobalt oxide. It is crucial for the extraction process as it helps to break down the compound into soluble salts. The script warns about the potential fire hazard due to the reaction of the oxide with the acid, emphasizing the need for caution when handling these chemicals.

💡Cobalt chloride complex

The cobalt chloride complex is a compound formed when cobalt from the mixed oxide reacts with hydrochloric acid. The script describes how the solution turns bright red due to this complex, indicating the presence of cobalt. This complex is significant because it is a step towards separating cobalt from lithium during the extraction process.

💡Recrystallization

Recrystallization is a method mentioned in the script as an initial attempt to extract lithium chloride. It involves dissolving a substance in a solvent and then slowly evaporating the solvent to precipitate the substance out of the solution. The video explains that this method did not work effectively due to the high concentration of cobalt compared to lithium in the solution.

💡Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol used in the video as part of an unsuccessful attempt to extract lithium chloride. The script describes how ethanol was used in an attempt to precipitate lithium, but it did not work as expected. This highlights the trial and error process involved in chemical extraction methods.

💡Oxalic acid

Oxalic acid is a chemical reagent used in the video to selectively precipitate cobalt oxalate from the solution. The script explains that by adding oxalic acid to the solution, cobalt can be separated out as an insoluble compound, leaving behind a solution that is richer in lithium salts. This is a key step in the extraction process as it helps to purify the lithium.

💡Flame test

The flame test is a qualitative analysis technique used to identify certain metal ions based on the color of the flame they produce when heated. In the video, the script describes using a flame test to confirm the presence of lithium in the solution, which produces a characteristic pink color. This test is important for verifying the success of the extraction process.

💡Metal impurities

Metal impurities such as nickel and manganese are mentioned in the script as components that can affect the color of the solution during the extraction process. These impurities are not the target of the extraction but can be present in the lithium-polymer batteries. The script notes that these impurities do not affect the flame color, which is used to identify lithium, allowing the process to continue despite their presence.

Highlights

Introduction to extracting lithium salts from Lithium Polymer batteries.

Using any lithium-containing rechargeable electronics like old laptops or cameras.

Peeling the plastic casing to expose the metal shell of the battery.

Opening the battery to access the roll containing mixed lithium Cobalt oxide.

Separating the copper foil with graphite, which is not needed for the process.

Dissolving the mixed oxide in diluted hydrochloric acid to extract lithium.

Caution about the potential fire hazard due to the oxide's interaction with organic compounds.

Observation of the solution turning bright red due to cobalt chloride complex with water.

Attempt to extract lithium chloride by recrystallization, which was unsuccessful.

Testing the presence of lithium in the Cobalt salt using a flame test.

Unsuccessful attempt to extract lithium chloride with ethanol.

Successful method to separate lithium from cobalt using oxalic acid.

Precipitation of cobalt oxalate as a solid to separate from lithium.

Adding more oxalic acid to the solution to clear any remaining cobalt chloride.

Drying the cobalt oxalate outside to obtain its pink stable form.

Boiling down the solution to precipitate oxalic acid crystals.

Cooling the solution to room temperature to maximize crystal precipitation.

Observation of the solution turning dark green turquoise due to metal impurities.

Boiling down the solution to a solid to observe the flam color of lithium.

Final observation of a nice flam color when the lithium-containing solid is heated.

Encouragement for viewers to like and subscribe for more educational content.

Transcripts

hello everyone and welcome back to

another video today we will try to

extract lithium salts from Lithium

Polymer batteries and make some nice

fosier

fire okay so we first need some

batteries I have here two different

types but it doesn't really matter as

long as there is lithium in them you can

find them in most rechargeable

Electronics such as an old laptop or a

camera we start by peeling the plastic

casing to be left with only the metal

shell here is a time lapse of me doing

it then we somehow open them using

something sharp or even a saw inside we

will find a roll which contains the

mixed lithium Cobalt oxide that we need

you will also find a copper foil with

graphite but this is useless here and

shall be separated so in a beaker I put

it aside our oxides foil and throwed the

rest as I just said the compound here is

not just lithium but a mixed oxide of

cobalt and lithium with this formul

formula to separate the metals we will

first dissolve them in diluted

hydrochloric acid to avoid any fire

hazard because the oxide can actually

make the organic compounds in the foil

take

fire the amount of acid doesn't need to

be precise just add enough to dissolve a

maximum amount of

product as you may have seen on the

Wikipedia page the Cobalt in this oxide

is in the rare plus three oxidation

state therefore it can oxidize the acid

to chlorine gaze to a small extent so be

careful of the gases produced also we

noticed that the solution turned to a

bright red coloration this is due to the

cobalt chloride complex with water if I

did not add the water to dissolve the

acid the coloration would be a deep dark

blue which you can see reappearing when

water gets removed from the

solution then we filter everything and

wash the foils with some

water

okay so basically my first method was to

directly extract lithium chloride by

recrystallization because it was in

theory possible but there is just not

enough lithium compared to the amount of

cobalt in solution so the salts don't

actually separate when boiling down I

have found another way to separate them

which actually work but I will show that

in a minute before that here is a quick

Montage of this

attempt

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as the water gets removed the solution

become more and more blue I test the

presence of lithium in the Cobalt salt

by a flam test lithium ion makes a cool

pink coloration while Cobalt doesn't

appear in the flame then I tried to

extract lithium chloride with ethanol

but it didn't work either so anyway here

is the real working method we first

boiled down everything to get the solids

dry salts and weight

them according to this paper we should

be able to selectively precipitate

Cobalt oxalate as a solid by using

oxalic acid or ammonium

oxalate I tried to test the two intest

tubes to see which one gives the best

result as you can see the solution is

much more clear on the right test tube

with oxalic acid so we will use that

one I don't remember how I did the math

but basically for 12 G of lithium and

cobalt chloride we will approximatively

need 14 G of oxalic acid dihydrate

if you do the calculations yourself

remember that your oxalic acid is most

likely the dihydrate form and you need

to adapt the mol Mass anyway we dissolve

it in water and add it to our solution

and a pink precipitate of cobalt oxalate

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forms here we might think that this

reaction can't happen as hydrochloric

acid is stronger than oxalic acid but

because Cobalt oxalate is insoluble the

equilibrium shifts accordingly to the

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equation as we compare our Beaker to the

test tube we can see that the top

solution layer is still a bit pink which

indicate that there might be some cobalt

chloride left so to fix that we can add

a little a little bit more of oxalic

acid because we will separate the excess

when boiling down

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anyway then we filter the solution

through a coffee filter and can observe

that the Cobalt oxalate turns gray on

contact with air and water when it gets

dry it's stable in the pink form though

so I just put it in a pan to dry outside

but if you don't care you can dispose of

it if you want cobalt metal

you can react it with aluminium foil in

a displacement reaction or get it by

decomposition in high temperatures with

the absence of oxygen to get pyrophoric

particles of

cobalt then we place the solution on a

hot plate and boil it down until oxalic

acid crystals start to appear we cool

down the solution to room temperature so

that a maximum amount of crystals

precipitate and then filter to get rid

of them they can also probably be

recycled if you

want after most of the oxalic acid was

removed the solution became a dark green

turquoise color this is due to metal

impurities such as nickel manganese and

others if you still have a big amount of

solution left when this happens you can

probably recrystallize lithium chloride

but here I just wanted to show the cool

flam color so I boiled down the solution

until a solid was left the metal

impurities won't affect the flam col

that's why I didn't bother removing them

also I had a small volume of solution

due to losses when trying the first

extraction

method anyway after all of this we can

observe this nice flam when the solid is

heated and mixed with ethanol methanol

would in theory be better but I didn't

had

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any

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if you enjoyed the video or leared

something don't forget to leave a like

And subscribe thanks for watching and

see you next

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time