Recovery of cobalt as cobalt oxalate from spent lithium ion batteries by using glycine as leaching agent

In the article, we are explaining a hydrometallurgical based process on leaching applied to recover Co from spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Glycine and ascorbic acid were introduced as leaching reagents and the leaching of Co with a solution containing glycine is investigated. An effective recovery of Co is possible when both glycine and ascorbic acid are used. A condition for achieving a recovery of more than 95% Co has been achieved experimentally by varying the concentrations of leachant and time of the reaction. Leaching with 0.5 M glycine, 0.02 M ascorbic acid and 0.2 g LiCoO2 in a batch extractor, results in a highly efficient recovery of Co within 360 min of the processing time at 80 degrees C. This hydrometallurgical process is found to be simple, eco friendly and satisfactory for the recovery of cobalt from spent LIBs. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.