About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advances in Recycling and Environmental Technologies
|
| Presentation Title |
Exploring Organic and Inorganic Acid Electro-Extraction for Critical Metal Recovery from Lithium Battery Cathode Material NMC532 |
| Author(s) |
Bryce Watson, Brett Carlson, Alevtina Smirnova |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Bryce Watson |
| Abstract Scope |
Lithium battery production is rapidly expanding, and the accumulation of secondary waste provides an opportunity to recapture valuable critical metals such as lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt. Aiming to find new methods to recover these metals, this study explores applying current at an extraction surface. An electric current can increase surface kinetics and may provide unique separation opportunities. The cathode material, NMC532, was adhered to a glassy carbon rotating disc electrode (RDE) controlled with a bipotentiostat. Extraction performance was calculated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to assess near-surface morphology and bonding environments. Hydrochloric, sulfuric, and acetic acid were tested to compare inorganic and organic acid performance. Oxidizing and reducing currents of 1 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> were applied to the coated RDE. Results show that an oxidizing current benefited acetic acid more than the inorganic acids, though inorganic acids generally performed better. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Electrometallurgy, Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Copper / Nickel / Cobalt |