What are the major components recovered from lithium-ion batteries during recycling using hydrometallurgical processes?

The major components recovered from lithium-ion batteries during recycling using hydrometallurgical processes include lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Hydrometallurgy involves dissolving the battery materials in acidic or alkaline solutions to selectively leach out the desired metals. Lithium is typically recovered as lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) or lithium hydroxide (LiOH) through precipitation or solvent extraction. Cobalt and nickel are recovered as metal salts or as pure metals through precipitation, solvent extraction, or electrowinning. Manganese is recovered as manganese dioxide (MnO2) or manganese sulfate (MnSO4). The specific recovery process and the form in which the metals are recovered depend on the battery chemistry and the recycling technology used. Hydrometallurgical processes offer the advantage of high material recovery rates and the ability to recover a wider range of materials compared to pyrometallurgical processes. However, they require more complex pre-processing steps and generate liquid waste that needs to be treated.