Title: From the spent lithium-ion battery to the ceramic pigment

Authors: María Fernanda Gazulla; María Jesús Ventura; Marta Rodrigo; Mónica Orduña; Cristina Andreu; Eulalia Zumaquero

Addresses: Avda Vicente Sos Baynat, s/n, Campus Universitario Riu Sec, 12100 Castellón de la Plana, Spain ' Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica, Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias Cerámicas, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, 12100 Castellón de la Plana, Spain ' Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica, Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias Cerámicas, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, 12100 Castellón de la Plana, Spain ' Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica, Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias Cerámicas, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, 12100 Castellón de la Plana, Spain ' Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica, Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias Cerámicas, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, 12100 Castellón de la Plana, Spain ' Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica, Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias Cerámicas, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, 12100 Castellón de la Plana, Spain

Abstract: Co/Al blue ceramic pigment has been synthesised using a Co₃O₄ of high purity recovered from the active cathode material of spent lithium-ion batteries. The synthesised pigment showed equal technical and aesthetic characteristics to those of the standard one, prepared using commercial Co₃O₄. Active cathode material was obtained using a physical semiautomatic separation process designed to minimise the contamination of the desired material. As a result of this study, not only the recycling of lithium-ion batteries for environmental protection is addressed but also the resource conservation as cobalt is considered a critical raw material by the European Commission. The different active cathode materials were analysed using different analytical techniques to know the concentration of the element of interest (Co) and the presence of impurities, such as Al, Cu, F, P, etc., as these can reduce the quality of the product recovered.

Keywords: spent lithium-ion battery; active cathode material; recycling process; cobalt recovery; blue ceramic pigment; waste management; environment protection; secondary raw materials; resource conservation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.135877

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2024 Vol.33 No.1, pp.59 - 73

Accepted: 06 Jul 2021
Published online: 09 Jan 2024 *

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