| Abstract Scope |
The rising demand for critical metals and the environmental burden of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) highlight the need for sustainable, high-efficiency recycling strategies. The present study examines pyrolysis as a thermal pretreatment for industrial NMC-type black mass. Samples were treated at 600°C and 700°C for 1 and 2 hours. Phase transformations and compositional changes were tracked using XRD, SEM-EDS, MP-AES, TGA-DTA, and FTIR. At 600°C, the layered NMC structures decomposed into Li₂CO₃, NiO, CoO, and Mn₃O₄, while the PVDF partially degraded and the electrolytes were removed. At 700°C, LiAlO₂ formed due to reactions with residual aluminum foil, and the sintering effects intensified. The process significantly reduced organics and simplified the material matrix, aiding downstream metal recovery. However, elevated conditions also risked forming undesirable secondary phases. These findings demonstrate that process-controlled pyrolysis can selectively concentrate valuable elements, minimize contaminants, and support more efficient hydrometallurgical recovery in the LIB recycling value chains. |