A feasible process for recycling valuable metals from LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode materials of spent Li-ion batteries

The recycling of cathode materials for spent NCM has always been a major concern for the energy industry. However, among the current processing methods, the general leaching efficiency of Li is between 85% and 93%, with much room for improvement. The recovery of Ni, Co and Mn requires a high cost of secondary purification. In this study, to recycle the NCM cathode material, a route of sulphated reduction roasting - selective Li water leaching - efficiency acid leaching of Ni, Co, Mn - extraction separation - crystallisation was adopted. The results showed that after roasting (a temperature of 800 °C, a reaction time of 90 min, a carbon content of 26%, and a sulphuric acid addition of n