Khetwunchai Natrawee, Rouquette Léa M J, Akeprathumchai Saengchai, Petranikova Martina
School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand.
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Industrial Materials Recycling and Nuclear Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden.
J Environ Manage. 2025 Aug;389:126244. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126244. Epub 2025 Jun 19.
This study investigates the efficient extraction of metals, particularly cobalt, from NMC black mass using NaEDTA as a leaching agent without the need for a reducing agent. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimized NaEDTA concentration, liquid-solid ratio, and initial pH, identifying optimal conditions as 0.5 M NaEDTA, a liquid-solid ratio of 30 mL g, and an initial pH of 4.00. Under these conditions at 80 °C and 300 rpm for 30 min, the highest cobalt leaching efficiency of 71 % was achieved Moreover, nickel (69 %), manganese (70 %), lithium (78 %), copper (63 %), aluminum (42 %), and iron (64 %) were also co-leached. Initial pH was found to significantly influence elemental leaching, with X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirming metal precipitation under high alkalinity. Leaching kinetics demonstrated rapid dissolution of cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium within 45 min, reaching the highest efficiencies of approximately 96 %. The highest leaching yields of both aluminum (93 %) and copper (99 %) was attained at 60 min and 90 min, respectively, while iron (70 %) was partially leached throughout the experiment, due to its role as a reducing agent. Residual traces were minimal (<1 % wt) after 45 min. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of copper, aluminum, and iron leaching efficiencies using EDTA as chelator under weakly acidic conditions and first introduces NaEDTA as an effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly agent for metal extraction from NMC black mass. These findings advance hydrometallurgical strategies for hazardous battery recycling, offering valuable insights for sustainable resource recovery and environmental stewardship.
本研究探讨了使用NaEDTA作为浸出剂，在无需还原剂的情况下，从NMC黑粉中高效提取金属，特别是钴的方法。响应面法（RSM）优化了NaEDTA浓度、液固比和初始pH值，确定最佳条件为0.5 M NaEDTA、30 mL/g的液固比和4.00的初始pH值。在80°C、300 rpm的条件下反应30分钟，钴的浸出效率最高可达71%。此外，镍（69%）、锰（70%）、锂（78%）、铜（63%）、铝（42%）和铁（64%）也被共浸出。发现初始pH值对元素浸出有显著影响，X射线衍射（XRD）证实了在高碱度下金属会沉淀。浸出动力学表明，钴、镍、锰和锂在45分钟内迅速溶解，最高效率达到约96%。铝（93%）和铜（99%）的最高浸出率分别在60分钟和90分钟时达到，而铁（70%）在整个实验过程中部分浸出，因为它起到了还原剂的作用。45分钟后残留痕迹极少（<1%重量）。本研究首次全面评估了在弱酸性条件下使用EDTA作为螯合剂时铜、铝和铁的浸出效率，并首次引入NaEDTA作为一种有效、经济高效且环保的从NMC黑粉中提取金属的试剂。这些发现推进了危险电池回收的湿法冶金策略，为可持续资源回收和环境管理提供了有价值的见解。
