Recycling Strategy for Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries as an Ultra-efficiency Peroxymonosulfate Activator

In this study, a novel strategy was exploited to preparean ultra-efficiencyNiCoMn-layered double-hydroxide (NiCoMn-LDH) catalyst for the recycleof valuable elements in spent lithium-ion batteries. Based on thedeveloped hydrometallurgical leaching method, avoiding the drawbackof separation and purification procedures, it was stated that theelements of Ni, Co, and Mn could be synchronously extracted from thespent cathode powder in less than 20 min with leaching efficienciesexceeding 98.9%. NiCoMn-LDH with a uniform flake structure was synthesizedsuccessfully from the leaching solution by a co-precipitation methodand the element precipitation efficiencies all exceeded 99% in thepreparation process. NiCoMn-LDH exhibited a great tetrabromobisphenolS (TBBPS) degradation performance as a peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator, TBBPS could be degraded completely in less than 100 s with an extremelylow dosage (catalyst 10 mg/L and PMS 0.1 mmol/L, pH 5.6), and NiCoMn-LDHstill kept a good stability after multiple reuse. Besides, ECOSARpredicted the toxicity of degradation products declined with the decreaseof bromine substituents, reflecting the environmental friendlinessof NiCoMn-LDH from spent lithium-ion batteries.