Black Mass & Hydrometallurgical Recycling

The Chemistry of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

Aug 07, 2026

"• Introduction: Surge in end-of-life EV batteries and black mass feedstocks.
• Pre-Treatment & Black Mass Generation: Mechanical shredding, binder removal, and magnetic separation.
• Hydrometallurgical Processing (The Gold Standard):
- Acid leaching (H2SO4, HCl, or organic acids with reductants like H2O2).
- Solvent extraction and selective precipitation of Ni, Co, Mn, and Li.
• Pyrometallurgy vs. Hydrometallurgy: Energy consumption, recovery rate comparisons, and environmental impact."