Unlocking Value: A Review on Recent Advances in the Extraction of Critical Metals & Non-Metals from Spent Battery Black Mass

Abstract

As the world moves toward e-mobility, the demand for critical minerals such as lithium (Li), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and graphite used in batteries is also growing. These minerals have minimal primary resources, and sustainability is doubtful considering the extraction from these reserves. Concerning this, most countries are now venturing into the possible routes of extracting these valuable components from secondary resources. The batteries have a shelf life, after which they are regarded as waste (spent batteries). These spent batteries are a great secondary resource from which the anode (graphite) and cathode (metals) materials can be recovered. These recovered materials can then be reused in the battery manufacturing process. Many researchers have worked on different routes by which this recovery or extraction is possible. This paper highlights the recent advances in recovering these metals and nonmetals via physical, chemical, and thermal techniques. Holistic utilization of these spent batteries not only creates a well-defined way of sustainability but also serves as an important pathway through which the country can be self-reliant. The article outlines a battery-to-battery circuit focused on sustainability. Spent batteries, deemed nonfunctional, are disassembled to yield a black mass containing cathode and anode materials. This mass can be purified through various methods for reuse as raw materials in new battery manufacturing.