Clarification on the Influence of Reducing Agents on the Extraction Mechanism of Metals from NMC111

Abstract

The urgent requirement for battery materials to satisfy their rising demand due to electrification is straining limited mineral resources. Thus, recycling is becoming increasingly more important to reduce reliance on mining and delocalize the supply chain of critical battery metals. In this framework, the use of process-intensification techniques to improve recycling yields is fundamental to ensuring scalability and economic viability. The extraction (leaching) of metals from spent batteries is the core step of hydrometallurgical recycling, and its intensification using acoustic cavitation has shown impressive results, enabling the use of milder organic acids. This work aims at investigating the quantitative effects of the addition of hydrogen peroxide as a reducing agent during cavitation-assisted leaching, to pinpoint its effect on the extraction. This results in a deeper understanding of the action of both reducing agents during the cavitation-intensified process.