Recovering Value from End-of-Life Batteries by Integrating Froth Flotation and Pyrometallurgical Copper-Slag Cleaning

In this study, industrial lithium-ion battery (LIB) waste was treated by a froth flotation process, which allowed selective separation of electrode particles from metallic-rich fractions containing Cu and Al. the experiments, recovery rates ~80 98.8% for cathode active elements (Co, Ni, Mn) graphite were achieved, respectively. The recovered metals fraction subsequently used in high-temperature Cu-slag reduction. manner, possibility using metallothermic reduction Al-wires LIB as main reductant studied. behavior valuable (Cu, Co, Li) hazardous (Zn, As, Sb, Pb), function time well influence Cu-slag-to-spent (SB) ratio, investigated. results showcase suitable process to recover copper spent batteries Cu-slag. Cu-concentration decreased approximately 0.3 wt.% after 60 min all samples where Cu/Al-rich added. It also showed that aluminothermic is effective removing slag. proposed capable recovering Cu, Ni both waste, resulting secondary slag can be various applications.