Green and efficient selective lithium extraction from spent lithium-ion batteries using a self-pressurizing-assisted oxidative fixation system

In the recycling of spent lithium batteries, priority lithium extraction is receiving extensive attention because of its prospects and development difficulties. This paper presents a simple, green, and efficient scheme for lithium extraction. In this process, oxidation is the main driving force, and pressure action and ion exchange assist in effectively achieving selective lithium recovery. The experimental results showed that a reasonable configuration of multiple driving forces caused a partial phase transition (cracks appearing) in the layered structure, which ultimately achieved 95.98 % lithium recovery and 94.69 % selectivity. Notably, the lithium-rich leach solution was nearly neutral, and the residue composition was nearly the same as that obtained after cathode charging. Combined with the corresponding characterization results, a mechanism of multiple driving forces for selective lithium extraction is proposed, which will provide a reference for subsequent metal selective recovery.