Recovery of valuable metals from NMC-811 li-ion battery waste with froth flotation and hydrometallurgical extraction

In this research, the primary objective is to study the recycling process of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for the recovery of valuable metals - specifically, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. This is accomplished through a comprehensive hydrometallurgical process that integrates froth flotation, acid leaching, and solvent extraction. The optimization of the flotation phase is a pivotal aspect of this study, with a focus on parameters like particle size and collector concentration. This optimization leads to a remarkable separation efficiency, evident in the recovery of 99.3% of the anode mass in the froth and 78.2% of the cathode mass in the precipitate. Notably, nickel emerges as the standout performer, with an extraordinary extraction efficiency of 99.97%. Nickel precipitates as an ammonium nickel sulfate crystals after solvent extraction due to supersaturation. These findings underscore the considerable potential of froth flotation and hydrometallurgical techniques as a sustainable, low-energy solution for recycling valuable metals sourced from spent LIBs.