Recovering the Cathode Material Adhered to the Collector and Separator of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries for Recycling Purposes

Abstract

Depleted Li-ion batteries (LIBs) must be recycled for environmental and sustainability reasons. Most recycling processes are dedicated to the recovery of Li, Co, Mn, and Ni present in the cathode material of LIBs. However, separating the cathode material strongly adhered to the aluminum collector and those mechanically trapped into the polymeric separator is still challenging. Processes to separate the cathode material by dissolving its aluminum collector in NaOH solution and to extract part of this material encrusted in the separator by ultrasonic cavitation and mechanical friction are presented in tests with NMC batteries on a laboratory scale. Tests of LIB discharges were also carried out in different MnO4 solution concentrations, and the related electrochemical reactions were discussed.

Keywords

• lithium-ion battery
• cathode material
• separation methods
• discharge in solution