Cobalt and nickel, bound together in lithium-ion battery cathodes, are difficult to separate during battery recycling. Researchers have now found a way to tease the elements apart electrochemically with the help of tartaric acid, which is found in grapes and is a wine-industry by-product.
“This can solve the long-lasting challenge of separating cobalt and nickel, especially in the context of dilute or complex mixtures. It’s effective, simple, and more sustainable,” says Yayuan Liu, a chemical and biomolecular engineer at Johns Hopkins University, who led the work.
Conventional battery recycling relies on solvent-based extraction to separate critical metals. The process involves multiple treatment steps and uses large volumes of solvents, making it time-consuming and costly while creating hazardous waste.
Click HERE to read the full article.