| Abstract Scope |
The recovery of valuable metals (e.g., Li, Mo, Co, Ni, Cu, etc) from recycled battery materials (Black Mass) is imperative for the energy transition away from fossil fuels, environmentally damaging raw material extraction, and establishing a battery circular economy. Once batteries reach their end of life, the mixed material is shredded and processed to produce Black Mass powder, however the efficiency of the valuable metals’ recovery is dependent on prior knowledge of the original battery compositions, their impurities, and how interactions with impurities impede the recovery process. Here, we present a workflow for the detailed characterization of Black Mass which quantitatively highlights the chemistry and morphology of its constituents. We apply an automated quantitative mineralogy technique in 2D from the SEM for chemical characterization, and then in 3D on the X-ray CT for spatial quantitative mineralogy characterization, morphology, and distribution. This provides a novel, correlative method for Black Mass characterization. |