Recycling cobalt from used Li-ion cell (Lithium Cobalt Oxide-LCO) by using succinic acid

Gunsen T. S., Husna M., YILDIZ M.

JOURNAL OF MATERIAL CYCLES AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

The growing demand for sustainable recycling solutions becomes increasingly critical in light of the rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery applications, projected to reach nearly 2600 GW/h by 2030. The primary aim of this study is to recover cobalt from spent and end-of-life lithium-ion (LiCoO2) cathodes using a hydrometallurgical acid leaching process with succinic acid. Additionally, the study seeks to develop a novel and environmentally friendly hydrometallurgical technique. The primary objective of this study is to achieve the highest possible efficiency in cobalt recovery. Key parameters influencing the hydrometallurgical leaching process-such as the concentration of the reducing agent (NaHSO3), succinic acid concentration, reaction time, and solid-to-liquid ratio (S/L) were systematically investigated. The optimal leaching conditions were identified as follows: 70 degrees C, 100 min, 1.5 M C4H6O4, 5 g/L S/L ratio, and 1.5% (v/v) NaHSO3 as the reducing agent. To interpret the results effectively, several characterization techniques were employed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). This study not only highlights the importance of sustainability in energy solutions but also demonstrates the promising economic potential of clean-energy-based hydrometallurgical recycling processes for cobalt recovery.