| Abstract Scope |
The electrification of transportation and portable electronics surrounding life will create a significant demand for LIBs, specifically NMC-type batteries. In this case, the demand for Li, Ni, Mn, and Co elements will increase. However, relying solely on mining to meet this demand is not sustainable. Thus, it is crucial to prioritize lithium-ion battery recycling in the coming decades. Even though the hydrometallurgy process is regarded as greener for metal recovery compared to pyrometallurgy, it requires further enhancements to address sustainability and environmental issues, such as decreasing excessive acid usage and concomitant waste minimisation (acidic wastewater and Na2SO4 production). To eliminate excessive acid use, the present work focused on improving the leaching efficiency of spent NMC cathode material using a minimum amount of acid. We carried out the reductive leaching of spent Li-NMC in H2SO4 media and investigated the associated kinetics in a redox-controlled CSTR through the regulated addition of H2O2. |