Process and system for recovering lithium from lithium-ion batteries

A process for recovering lithium from a lithium-ion battery waste stream, the process comprising:

• solidifying sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) from a liquid stream comprising lithium sulfate (Li2SO4), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and water (H2O) present at an initial amount by:
• (i) evaporating a portion of the water in the liquid stream comprising lithium sulfate (Li2SO4), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and water (H2O) to generate water vapor and an effluent stream;
• and
• cooling the effluent stream to less than 0° C. and solidifying sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) from the effluent stream in a crystallizer vessel to generate a second effluent stream;
• or
• (ii) cooling the liquid stream to less than 0° C. and solidifying sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) from the liquid stream in a crystallizer vessel to generate a third effluent stream;
• and
• evaporating a portion of the water in the third effluent stream to generate water vapor and a fourth effluent stream;
• removing the sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) solids from the second effluent stream or the third effluent stream;
• heating the second effluent stream or the fourth effluent stream and introducing sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to the second effluent stream or the fourth effluent stream to produce a lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) product stream;
• and
• separating lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from the lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) product stream, wherein the second effluent stream having concentrated lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) has greater than or equal to about 70% by weight of the initial amount of water (H2O) removed or the fourth effluent stream having concentrated lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) has greater than or equal to about 70% by weight of the initial amount of water (H2O) removed.