Interfacial Chemistry Involved in Selective Separation of NMC/LMO and LCO/LMO Binary Cathode Materials by Froth Flotation Using Oleic Acid
Richard K. Oboh, Kaiwu Huang, Seoung-Bum Son, Lei Pan
TL;DR
This paper shows how froth flotation with oleic acid can efficiently separate different lithium-ion battery cathode materials, which is important for recycling.
Contribution
The study reveals, for the first time, the mechanism of oleate adsorption on different cathode materials and validates froth flotation for selective separation.
Findings
Flotation achieved 80% separation efficiency with >90% purity of NMC/LCO in a single stage.
Oleic acid preferentially adsorbed on NMC and LCO surfaces via electrostatic interactions at pH 5.
Separation efficiency declined at higher pH due to co-flotation of LMO materials.
Abstract
The variability in cathode compositions within recycled lithium-ion battery (LIB) feedstocks poses a significant challenge to efficient downstream refining processes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using froth flotation with oleic acid as a collector to selectively separate lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) from lithium manganese oxide (LMO) materials. Laboratory-scale flotation tests achieved an 80% separation efficiency in a single stage, producing a froth product with >90% purity of NMC/LCO at approximately 90% yield. Concurrently, the LMO materials were enriched in the sink product with ∼90% purity and ∼90% yield. This approach was further validated using recycled cathode materials, confirming its applicability to realistic feedstocks. The underlying mechanism governing the selective separation of NMC/LCO from LMO was investigated…
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Taxonomy
TopicsExtraction and Separation Processes · Recycling and Waste Management Techniques · Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques