Nickel and cobalt recycling from lithium

The increasing use of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries has underscored the necessity for efficient recycling methods for valuable metals such as cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni). This study aims to develop and optimize electrochemical processes for the recovery of Co and Ni from these batteries, specifically focusing on hydrometallurgical extraction followed by electrochemical recovery techniques. Through a series of experiments, Ni was electrowon at a current density of 250 A/m², pH of 3-3.2, and temperature of 50 °C, achieving a current efficiency of 87% and specific energy consumption of 2.96 kWh/kg. In contrast, potentiostatic electrolysis yielded a less efficient Ni powder within one hour, with current efficiencies varying between 45% and 70%. For Co recovery, a current efficiency of 96% was attained under similar conditions, with specific energy consumption at 2.8 kWh/kg, producing high-quality Co powder suitable for recycling into new batteries. The results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing electrochemical processes for the effective recycling of key materials from lithium-ion batteries.