Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes
This study investigates the optimization of an ammonia-based leaching process for the recovery of lithium and cobalt from spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> cathodes, coupled with an energy-efficient ammonia stripping approach. Kinetic analysis revealed that both lithium and cobalt extraction follo...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Aisulu Batkal Kaster Kamunur Lyazzat Mussapyrova Bagdatgul Milikhat Rashid Nadirov |
| author_facet | Aisulu Batkal Kaster Kamunur Lyazzat Mussapyrova Bagdatgul Milikhat Rashid Nadirov |
| author_sort | Aisulu Batkal |
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| description | This study investigates the optimization of an ammonia-based leaching process for the recovery of lithium and cobalt from spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> cathodes, coupled with an energy-efficient ammonia stripping approach. Kinetic analysis revealed that both lithium and cobalt extraction follow pseudo-first-order kinetics, with activation energies of 76.54 kJ/mol and 97.22 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating a chemically controlled process. Optimal leaching conditions were established at 6 M NH<sub>3</sub>, 1.5 M (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>, liquid-to-solid ratio of 10:1, and 70 °C for 5 h, achieving 82.5% lithium and 96.1% cobalt recovery. The ammonia stripping process was optimized for energy efficiency, with operations at 95–98 °C providing the best balance between rapid NH<sub>3</sub> removal and energy consumption. At 98 °C, energy demand was reduced to ~282 kJ/mol, a sevenfold improvement over lower temperature operations. A stepwise separation strategy was developed, involving selective lithium precipitation at pH 10.7–10.8, followed by controlled ammonia stripping to precipitate cobalt at pH 8.8–9.0. This integrated approach offers a promising alternative to conventional acid-based recycling methods, combining high metal recovery with improved energy efficiency and reagent recyclability. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b4bf5fb05d044760a5e42482c149c2bf2025-08-20T03:08:06ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-06-0115769010.3390/met15070690Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> CathodesAisulu Batkal0Kaster Kamunur1Lyazzat Mussapyrova2Bagdatgul Milikhat3Rashid Nadirov4Institute of Combustion Problems, Almaty 050012, KazakhstanInstitute of Combustion Problems, Almaty 050012, KazakhstanFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, KazakhstanInstitute of Combustion Problems, Almaty 050012, KazakhstanInstitute of Combustion Problems, Almaty 050012, KazakhstanThis study investigates the optimization of an ammonia-based leaching process for the recovery of lithium and cobalt from spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> cathodes, coupled with an energy-efficient ammonia stripping approach. Kinetic analysis revealed that both lithium and cobalt extraction follow pseudo-first-order kinetics, with activation energies of 76.54 kJ/mol and 97.22 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating a chemically controlled process. Optimal leaching conditions were established at 6 M NH<sub>3</sub>, 1.5 M (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>, liquid-to-solid ratio of 10:1, and 70 °C for 5 h, achieving 82.5% lithium and 96.1% cobalt recovery. The ammonia stripping process was optimized for energy efficiency, with operations at 95–98 °C providing the best balance between rapid NH<sub>3</sub> removal and energy consumption. At 98 °C, energy demand was reduced to ~282 kJ/mol, a sevenfold improvement over lower temperature operations. A stepwise separation strategy was developed, involving selective lithium precipitation at pH 10.7–10.8, followed by controlled ammonia stripping to precipitate cobalt at pH 8.8–9.0. This integrated approach offers a promising alternative to conventional acid-based recycling methods, combining high metal recovery with improved energy efficiency and reagent recyclability.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/7/690lithium-ion batteries recyclingammonia leachingkineticsenergy efficiencymetal recoverycobalt |
| spellingShingle | Aisulu Batkal Kaster Kamunur Lyazzat Mussapyrova Bagdatgul Milikhat Rashid Nadirov Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes Metals lithium-ion batteries recycling ammonia leaching kinetics energy efficiency metal recovery cobalt |
| title | Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes |
| title_full | Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes |
| title_fullStr | Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes |
| title_short | Optimized Ammonia Leaching and Energy-Efficient Stripping for Lithium and Cobalt Recovery from Spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes |
| title_sort | optimized ammonia leaching and energy efficient stripping for lithium and cobalt recovery from spent licoo sub 2 sub cathodes |
| topic | lithium-ion batteries recycling ammonia leaching kinetics energy efficiency metal recovery cobalt |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/7/690 |
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