Gas exchange-driven carbothermal reduction for simultaneous lithium extraction from anode and cathode scraps

Recovering lithium resources from spent lithium-ion batteries offer a significant opportunity to address the issue of lithium scarcity. The preferential extraction of lithium from cathode materials by reduction roasting has been widely researched, but the simultaneous extraction of lithium from cathode and cathode scrap has not been reported. Thus, we investigated the feasibility and advantages of lithium extraction from spent LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 batteries by carbothermal reduction reaction with spent anode graphite. Under optimal conditions, the lithium recovery rate reached more than 90%, and the selectivity reached 100%. Then, with the help of TG-MS and other characterization techniques, the mechanism of lithium migration and transformation caused by gas exchange during the roasting process was elucidated. We hope that the results of this study will provide a new opportunity for the industrial recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries through this technology for the simultaneous extraction of lithium from anode and cathode scraps.