Recycling of lithium ion batteries: mechanical and hydrometallurgical treatment towards zero-waste

In this work, the overall process for the treatment of LIB was presented considering both the mechanical step for the recovery of black mass, and the hydrometallurgical route for the recovery of metals. Black mass, recovered with high yield and purity by shredding, sieving and milling, was fed to leaching reactor for dissolving all metals (Li, Mn, Co, Ni) giving a residue which can be recovered as pure graphite. Co can be recovered as salt or oxide after precipitation by pH increase for metal impurity separation, or after solvent extraction achieving commercial purity. After separation of sodium, Li can be recovered as carbonate.