Recovering the Cathode Material Adhered to the Collector and Separator of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries for Recycling Purposes

Marcelo Henrique  Novaes; Paulo Rogério Catarini da Silva; Paulo Sergio Parreira; Gabriel Gonzaga Santos; Lucas Evangelista Sita; Jair Scarminio

doi:10.5433/1679-0375.2023.v44.47835

Recovering the Cathode Material Adhered to the Collector and Separator of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries for Recycling Purposes

Authors

Marcelo Henrique Novaes State University of Londrina - UEL https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4806-1941
Paulo Rogério Catarini da Silva State University of Londrina - UEL https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8593-5849
Paulo Sergio Parreira State University of Londrina - UEL https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8850-4913
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos State University of Londrina - UEL https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3433-5207
Lucas Evangelista Sita State University of Londrina - UEL https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4880-1504
Jair Scarminio State University of Londrina - UEL https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2049-7491

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0375.2023.v44.47835

Keywords:

lithium-ion battery, cathode material, separation methods, discharge in solution

Abstract

Depleted Li-ion batteries (LIBs) must be recycled for environmental and sustainability reasons. Most recycling processes are dedicated to the recovery of Li, Co, Mn, and Ni present in the cathode material of LIBs. However, separating the cathode material strongly adhered to the aluminum collector and those mechanically trapped into the polymeric separator is still challenging. Processes to separate the cathode material by dissolving its aluminum collector in NaOH solution and to extract part of this material encrusted in the separator by ultrasonic cavitation and mechanical friction are presented in tests with NMC batteries on a laboratory scale. Tests of LIB discharges were also carried out in different MnO₄ solution concentrations, and the related electrochemical reactions were discussed.

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Author Biographies

Marcelo Henrique Novaes, State University of Londrina - UEL

Undergraduate Student, Department of Physics, UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Paulo Rogério Catarini da Silva, State University of Londrina - UEL

Technician Dr., Department of Physics, UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Paulo Sergio Parreira, State University of Londrina - UEL

Prof. Dr., Department of Physics, UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Gabriel Gonzaga Santos, State University of Londrina - UEL

Master Student, Department of Physics, UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Lucas Evangelista Sita, State University of Londrina - UEL

PhD student, Department of Physics, UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Jair Scarminio, State University of Londrina - UEL

Prof. Dr., Physics Dept. UEL, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

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