flow diagram

Life-Cycle Assessment of LIB leaching methods

multi-part diagram showing flow of resources and ecosystems

CMI researchers from Idaho National Laboratory and the University of Arizona conducted the research for this highlight.

Achievement
Completed study comparing three methods of dissolving metal content from lithium-ion battery (LIB) black mass.

Significance

  • Dissolving black mass is a chemically intensive step driving new options, which lower impact
  • Peroxide-based leaching (PBL), EC-Leach (ECL) and SO2 (SBL) were compared.

Details and impact

  • PBL showed highest impact for all categories
  • ECL and SBL showed very similar impacts across all categories; ECL has lower ecotoxicity due to copper capture
  • ECL has additional potential to reduce impact if powered with low carbon energy sources.

Hub Target Addressed 
Recovery and conversion of critical minerals into high value refined products.

bar graph showing Relative impacts across 12 environmental categories  (normalized to highest impact scenario)
Relative impacts across 12 environmental categories 
(normalized to highest impact scenario)