Extractive Recovery of valuable Metals from Li-ion Battery Scrap

Recent trade figures of the London Metal Exchange probably reflect the impact of Li-ion battery production on the trade value of Cobalt.

Sustainable management of natural resources as well as waste management are therefore welcome driving force for the recycling of valuable constituents of spent Li-ion batteries.

The metal content and electrolyte composition of different batteries may vary. Typically batteries with Cobalt oxide cathodes consist of 2.5% Li, 15% Co, 2% Fe, 13% Al, Mn and Ni.

In hydrometallurgical application of solvent extraction isolation routes for Cobalt and Copper are well established. Appropriate combination of extraction with the solvents DEHPA, Cyanex 272 and LIX 84 offers access to isolation of Lithium, Cobalt and Copper.

After dismantling of the battery body and neutralisation of the reaction potential the metals are dissolved by hydrogen peroxide assisted dual step leaching. The leach liquor is then refined by precipitating Iron and Aluminium. From the refining filtrate phase Cobalt and Copper are coextracted with either DEHPA or Cyanex 272, leaving Lithium in the raffinate phase for further recovery. From the stripping phase of the first extraction step Copper is then separated from Cobalt by liquid-liquid extraction with LIX 84.