Leaching of cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries by using a mixture of ascorbic acid and HNO3

New batteries for energy storage are constantly being developed. Among them, lithium-ion batteries are widely used, and their production is continually growing. However, the treatment, including reuse and recycling after utilization is essential to ensure the protection of the environment and avoid depletion of resources. This study uses the mixtures of ascorbic acid and nitric acid to leach positive electrode materials. The effect of several factors on the leaching process was investigated. In addition, analysis of leaching reactions and characterization of solids using XPS, XRF, XRD, and SEM-EDS were carried out. The results showed that the leaching efficiencies of lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel were nearly 100% within 10 min in the experiments conducted using the most suitable conditions.