A Fast Metals Recovery Method for the Synthesis of Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide Material from Cathode Waste

• Main Authors: Soraya Ulfa Muzayanha, Cornelius Satria Yudha, Adrian Nur, Hendri Widiyandari, Hery Haerudin, Hanida Nilasary, Ferry Fathoni, Agus Purwanto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: NCA; Li-ion battery; hydrometallurgical; recycle; resynthesis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/5/615

An approach for a fast recycling process for Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA) cathode scrap material without the presence of a reducing agent was proposed. The combination of metal leaching using strong acids (HCl, H₂SO₄, HNO₃) and mixed metal hydroxide co-precipitation followed by heat treatment was investigated to resynthesize NCA. The most efficient leaching with a high solid loading rate (100 g/L) was obtained using HCl, resulting in Ni, Co, and Al leaching efficiencies of 99.8%, 95.6%, and 99.5%, respectively. The recycled NCA (RNCA) was successfully synthesized and in good agreement with JCPDS Card #87-1562. The highly crystalline RNCA presents the highest specific discharge capacity of a full cell (RNCA vs. Graphite) of 124.2 mAh/g with capacity retention of 96% after 40 cycles. This result is comparable with commercial NCA. Overall, this approach is faster than that in the previous study, resulting in more efficient and facile treatment of the recycling process for NCA waste and providing 35 times faster processing.