| Abstract Scope |
The presence of reductants is crucial in the processing of cathode material from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), such as LiCoO2 (LCO). The conventional method of processing LCO involves the use of H2O2 as the reductant. To some degree, metallic elements can be utilized as reductants. This has the benefit of being able to recover both the metals from LCO and the metal reductants, as well as the better transportation and handling compared to aqueous H2O2. The present study aims at assessing the effectiveness of metallic elements (Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) as reductants in the processing of LCO via aqueous leaching using H2SO4 and solvoleaching using organic extractants (D2EHPA, PC88A and Cyanex 272). Such protocols were followed, including by performing the experiments at varied LCO/metal mass ratio, investigating the effect of graphite, and the effect of water addition and the type of organic extractants in the solvoleaching process. |