Selective Sulfidation and Electrowinning of Nickel and Cobalt for Lithium Ion Battery Recycling

Processes for recycling lithium ion batteries (LIB), in particular complex chemistries such as those containing nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes are hindered by tradeoffs between capital cost, process sustainability, and materials recovery. Most metal separations primary secondary production of critical elements rely on anion exchange chemistries. Herein, we explore the application a novel oxide-sulfide methodology to facilitate LIB recycling. Beginning with selective sulfidation NMC cathode oxides, demonstrate that may be stabilized sulfate, manganese an oxysulfide, nickel cobalt sulfides from mixed feed, potentially facilitating isolation via leaching nickel-cobalt flotation. Following, molten sulfide electrolysis method intensification, combining separation reduction into single unit operation difficult separate metals nickel. We sulfide, produced waste cathodes, using barium-lanthanum supporting electrolyte. Our preliminary results suggest pretreatment is promising avenue complicated feeds, found battery streams.