Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass
Eramet uses a combination of physical and hydrometallurgical treatment to recycle lithium-ion batteries. Before hydrometallurgical processing, mechanical treatment is applied to recover the Black Mass which contains nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium as valuable elements as well as graphite, solv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/2/119 |
| _version_ | 1797477766282608640 |
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| author | Mickaël Dadé Thomas Wallmach Odile Laugier |
| author_facet | Mickaël Dadé Thomas Wallmach Odile Laugier |
| author_sort | Mickaël Dadé |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eramet uses a combination of physical and hydrometallurgical treatment to recycle lithium-ion batteries. Before hydrometallurgical processing, mechanical treatment is applied to recover the Black Mass which contains nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium as valuable elements as well as graphite, solvent, plastics, aluminium and copper. To evaluate the suitability for hydrometallurgical recycling, it is essential to analyse the Black Mass chemically but also with respect to size, shape and composition of particles in the Black Mass. The Black Mass of various battery recyclers was investigated by using a combination of SEM/QEMSCAN<sup>®</sup> analyses. This specific QEMSCAN<sup>®</sup> database contains 260 subgroups, which comprise major and minor chemical variations of phases. The database was created using millions of point analyses. Major observations are: (1) particles can be micro-texturally characterised and classified with respect to chemical element contents; (2) important textural and chemical particle variations exist in the Black Mass from several origins leading to different levels of quality; (3) elements deleterious to hydrometallurgical processing (i.g. Si, Ca, Ti, Al, Cu and others) are present in well liberated particles; (4) components can be quantified and cathodes active material compositions (LCO, different NMC, NCA, LFP, etc.) that are specific for each battery type can be identified; (5) simulation of further physical mineral processing can optimise Black Mass purity in valuable elements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:22:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c715fc3e1e347818d45ccdbe7ebe173 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:22:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c715fc3e1e347818d45ccdbe7ebe1732023-11-23T21:17:08ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-01-0112211910.3390/min12020119Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black MassMickaël Dadé0Thomas Wallmach1Odile Laugier2Eramet Ideas, 78910 Trappes, FranceEramet Ideas, 78910 Trappes, FranceEramet Ideas, 78910 Trappes, FranceEramet uses a combination of physical and hydrometallurgical treatment to recycle lithium-ion batteries. Before hydrometallurgical processing, mechanical treatment is applied to recover the Black Mass which contains nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium as valuable elements as well as graphite, solvent, plastics, aluminium and copper. To evaluate the suitability for hydrometallurgical recycling, it is essential to analyse the Black Mass chemically but also with respect to size, shape and composition of particles in the Black Mass. The Black Mass of various battery recyclers was investigated by using a combination of SEM/QEMSCAN<sup>®</sup> analyses. This specific QEMSCAN<sup>®</sup> database contains 260 subgroups, which comprise major and minor chemical variations of phases. The database was created using millions of point analyses. Major observations are: (1) particles can be micro-texturally characterised and classified with respect to chemical element contents; (2) important textural and chemical particle variations exist in the Black Mass from several origins leading to different levels of quality; (3) elements deleterious to hydrometallurgical processing (i.g. Si, Ca, Ti, Al, Cu and others) are present in well liberated particles; (4) components can be quantified and cathodes active material compositions (LCO, different NMC, NCA, LFP, etc.) that are specific for each battery type can be identified; (5) simulation of further physical mineral processing can optimise Black Mass purity in valuable elements.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/2/119Li-ion batteryblack massgeometallurgyautomated mineralogypurificationdigital simulations |
| spellingShingle | Mickaël Dadé Thomas Wallmach Odile Laugier Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass Minerals Li-ion battery black mass geometallurgy automated mineralogy purification digital simulations |
| title | Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass |
| title_full | Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass |
| title_fullStr | Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass |
| title_short | Detailed Microparticle Analyses Providing Process Relevant Chemical and Microtextural Insights into the Black Mass |
| title_sort | detailed microparticle analyses providing process relevant chemical and microtextural insights into the black mass |
| topic | Li-ion battery black mass geometallurgy automated mineralogy purification digital simulations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/2/119 |
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