The Journal of
the Korean Journal of Metals and Materials

The Journal of
the Korean Journal of Metals and Materials

Monthly
  • pISSN : 1738-8228
  • eISSN : 2288-8241

Editorial Office

Title Reduction Behavior of Black Mass Recovered from NCM-based Spent Lithium-ion Batteries by CO Gas
Authors 이상엽(Sang-Yeop Lee) ; 황재호(Jae-Ho Hwang) ; 이소영(So-Yeong Lee) ; 손호상(Ho-Sang Sohn)
DOI https://doi.org/10.3365/KJMM.2025.63.10.820
Page pp.820-827
ISSN 1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN)
Keywords Lithium-ion battery; Recycling; Reduction roasting; Boudouard reaction; Black mass
Abstract The cathode active materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) contain critical metals including Ni, Co, Mn, and Li. Since these metals are only produced in a few countries, it is necessary to recover them from spent lithium-ion batteries. The concentrated electrode materials of lithium-ion batteries are referred to as black mass (B/M), which contains a large amount of carbon used as the anode material, along with metal oxides used in the cathode. In this study, the effect of roasting temperature in an Ar+CO gas atmosphere on the reduction behavior of NCM (LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2)-based black mass powder and the recovery of Li was investigated. In the thermogravimetric analysis, the CO2 concentration increased sharply from about 430 oC to a maximum value and then decreased, during which a weight gain due to the formation of Li2CO3 was also observed. Above approximately 700 oC, the concentration of CO increased due to the reaction of CO2 with the C in the B/M due to the Boudouard reaction. In the isothermal roasting in an Ar+CO 50 vol.% atmosphere, the weight of the sample decreased significantly above 696 oC, and the final weight loss amount also increased with increasing temperature. Most of the significant weight loss is thought to be due to the Boudouard reaction. Li2CO3 was generated regardless of temperature. Above 696 oC, most of the Ni and Co oxides were reduced to metals, and above 900 oC, some of the MnO was also reduced and is thought to have been dissolved in the Ni-Co alloy. At temperatures above 696 oC, where the NiO was fully reduced, the recoveries rate of lithium was approximately 90 % with no significant difference.