A mechanochemical method for one-step leaching of metals from spent LIBs

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) pose environmental challenges due to hazardous materials.
• Efficient metal recovery from LIBs cathode waste is crucial for resource sustainability.
• Existing methods for LIBs recycling often involve harsh chemicals or multiple steps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a one-step, green, and efficient system for recovering metals from LIBs cathode waste.
• To investigate the use of mechanochemical activation and grape skins (GS) for enhanced metal leaching.
• To characterize the changes in cathode material properties induced by the proposed method.

Main Methods:

• Mechanochemical activation via ball-milling (BM) of LIBs cathode waste with grape skins.
• Optimization of BM speed, BM time, and GS quantity for metal recovery.
• Characterization of lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) and leaching residue using SEM, BET, PSD, XRD, FT-IR, and XPS.

Main Results:

• Mechanochemistry significantly improved metal leaching efficiency from LIBs cathode waste.
• The process reduced LCO particle size and increased specific surface area and hydrophilicity.
• Material characterization revealed altered cathode properties, including disrupted crystal structure and increased microscopic strain.

Conclusions:

• A green, efficient, and environmentally friendly one-step process for spent LIBs treatment was developed.
• Mechanochemical activation with grape skins offers a promising route for resource recovery from battery waste.
• The method facilitates harmless and resource-friendly management of end-of-life LIBs.