Electrochemical recovery of cobalt and copper from spent Li-ion batteries as multilayer deposits

Microbial electrolysis cells with biocathodes and driven by microbial fuel cells for simultaneous enhanced Co(II) and Cu(II) removal

“…However, energy consumption in conventional electrochemical processes for cobalt and copper recovery amounted to 3.9-28.3 kWh•kg -1 Co at more acidic pHs 3.0-4.0 and a higher temperature of 50°C [1] and 102 kWh•kg -1 Cu at a more acidic pH of 1.0 [33], compared to zero energy consumption here, reflecting the energy-saving merit of this system. Moreover, Cu(II) removal rate here was 3.4-38 times of individual MFCs at a similar Cu(II) concentration of 800-1000 mg•L -1 but with various reactor architectures [2,34] whereas the Co(II) Fig.…”

“…As an example, proper separation of the recovered cobalt from the microorganisms and the recovered copper from the cathodes should be further carried out in order to achieve a fully copper and cobalt recycling process. In view of the co-present Cu(II) and Co(II) in the effluents of spent lithium ion battery treatment processes [1] as well as the merit of Co(II) removal in MECs instead of MFCs, an influent of mixed Cu(II) and Co(II) is previously suggested to be initially fed into the cathode chambers of MFCs for Cu(II) reduction and the effluent of the cathodes of MFCs Phyla and classes that represented less than 0.5% of the total bacterial community composition were classified as "others" is then employed in the cathode chambers of MECs for Co (II) removal [9,10]. Since the predictable detrimental effects of Cu(II) ions and more acidic pHs on the cathodic biofilm in the present MECs, an appropriate Cu(II) concentration in the mixed influent with proper pHs (e.g.…”

“…These Cu(II) and Co(II) removal rates could not be compared with conventional electrochemical processes due to greatly different operational conditions and reactor architectures [1]. However, energy consumption in conventional electrochemical processes for cobalt and copper recovery amounted to 3.9-28.3 kWh•kg -1 Co at more acidic pHs 3.0-4.0 and a higher temperature of 50°C [1] and 102 kWh•kg -1 Cu at a more acidic pH of 1.0 [33], compared to zero energy consumption here, reflecting the energy-saving merit of this system.…”

“…Recovery of copper and cobalt from spent lithium ion batteries is thus one of the primary objectives in recycling of these wastes due to the shortage of natural ores and environmental considerations [1]. The newly developed bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) show promising for this recovery, where Cu(II) can be spontaneously reduced to Cu(0) on the cathodes of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) due to a favorable half cell redox potential of 0.34 (vs. standard hydrogen electrode, SHE) relative to that of organic matter (ca.…”

Preparation and electrochemical properties of re-synthesized LiCoO2 from spent lithium-ion batteries

“…Ferreira et al [10] and Freitas et al [11] studied the recovery of valuable metals from the waste cathodic active material by pyro-metallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes. Commonly used methods include crushing, physical separation, acid leaching, and precipitation or solvent extraction to recover the cobalt and lithium from the battery waste.…”