Demonstration of a Series Process Combining Pyrometallurgy and Hydrometallurgy for Recovering Valuable Metals from Waste Lini X Co Y Mn Z O 2 Cathode Materials

The recycling of used lithium-ion batteries can undoubtedly bring enormous environmental and economic benefits. However, most researchers paid attention to the leaching and seldom the separation of valuable metals in waste LiNixCoyMnzO2 cathode materials. From the perspective of the raw materials for LiNixCoyMnzO2, we have designed an environmentally friendly and gentle series process, which gradually leach the valuable metals and effectively separate. Interestingly, the Li is extracted by reduction roasting and water leaching process, the Ni and Co are recovered by ammonia leaching process and extraction process, the Mn is recovered by acid leaching process and evaporative crystallization. Results show that approximately 87% Li, 97.01% Co, 97.08 % Ni, and 99% Mn can be leaching by water leaching process, ammonia leaching process and acid leaching process, the concentration of (NH4)2SO3 is a significant factor affecting the leaching of transition metals, Li2CO3, CoSO4, NiSO4, MnSO4 were successfully recovered, the decomposition of LiNixCoyMnzO2 is a two-step decomposition process. Our work provides valuable insights developed an environmentally friendly progressive leaching process in order to efficiently recycle valuable metals, which is a vital significance for the lithium-ion battery recycling industry