Dissolution of cathode active material of spent Li-ion batteries using tartaric acid and ascorbic acid mixture to recover Co

• Published in: Hydrometallurgy Vol. 161; pp. 54 - 57
• Main Authors: Nayaka, G.P., Pai, K.V., Santhosh, G., Manjanna, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-05-2016
• Subjects: Ascorbic acid; Cathodes; Cathodic dissolution; Cobalt; Dissolution; Lithium-ion batteries; Organic acids; Rechargeable batteries; Recovery of Co; Spent lithium-ion batteries; Tartaric acid; Spent lithium-ion batteries; Recovery of Co; Dissolution; Organic acids
• ISSN: 0304-386X; 1879-1158
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.01.026

Environmentally benign hydrometallurgical dissolution process is investigated for the recovery of cobalt from the cathode active materials of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A mixture of tartaric acid and ascorbic acid is used to dissolve the LiCoO2 collected from spent LIBs. The reductive-complexing mechanism led to >95% dissolution with 0.4M tartaric acid and 0.02M ascorbic acid in about 5h at 80°C. The dissolved Co was separated as cobalt oxalate from the mixture.
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•Tartaric and ascorbic acid mixture can dissolve active cathode material of spent Li-ion batteries.•Formation of Co(III)- and Co(II)-L complex was evident from UV–vis spectra.•Co was recovered as Co(II)-oxalate by selective precipitation.•Unlike mineral acids, these organic acids are advantageous in waste management.