A novel process for leaching of metals from LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 material of spent lithium ion batteries: Process optimization and kinetics aspects

A novel process of electrochemical cathode reduction has been developed for leaching of metals from spent LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 material. The leaching efficiencies of Li, Ni, Co and Mn reached to 100, 99.87, 99.58 and 99.82%, respectively with 1.5 mol/L malic acid and working voltage of 8 V at 300 r/min and 60 °C for 30 min. Kinetics analysis indicates that leaching process is controlled by surface chemical reaction. The Ea for Li, Ni, Co and Mn was 41.71, 42.83, 44.38 and 43.17 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on EIS analysis, leaching process is mainly controlled by charge transfer resistance of the surface chemical reaction.