From Addressing Environmental Issues with Electrocoagulation to Creating Valuable Resources: Utilizing Microplastics to Manufacture Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

초록

Electrocoagulation is a promising technology for treating pollutants in wastewater due to its flexibility, ease of operation, and environmental friendliness. In this study, we explore eco-friendly approaches to separate, retreat, and repurpose microplastics using electrocoagulation. Our findings demonstrate that by forming Fe3O4 on the surface of polyethylene (PE) particles, we can produce flocs that are easily separated with high efficiency using a magnetic force. We also confirm that removing Fe3O4 is necessary to generate free radicals that facilitate the efficient photolysis of PE. The Fe3O4 extracted from the flocs can be repurposed to synthesize iron-oxalate compounds with potential battery applications. Moreover, our research suggests that heating Fe3O4-PE flocs in an Ar atmosphere can result in the formation of Fe3O4 core-carbon shell nanoparticles, which exhibit excellent performance as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The proposed composite demonstrates a capacity of 1123 mAh g?1 at a current density of 0.5 A g?1 after 600 cycles with a negative fading phenomenon. Our study offers novel insights into recyclable processes that address environmental concerns, such as microplastics, and extend to energy material applications.