Extraction of Cobalt in Lithium-Ion Batteries by Leaching with Lemon Peel (Citrus x aurantifolia)

Abstract

Given the growing demand for electronic products, the manufacture of lithium batteries (LIBs), follows the same trend. LIBs contain cobalt, a metal that is rare and expensive. The recent depletion of reserves of this element encouraged the development of hydrometallurgical processes that generate a less negative impact on the environment, such as the one proposed in this study. Fo ur treatments were used with different doses of lemon peel and concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, establishing parameters such as extraction time (90 min.), temperature (±90 °C), and solid/liq uid ratio (10 g/L). According to the results, treatment 4 showed the maximum cobalt leaching efficiency reaching 51.91%, using 3g of lemon peel and a concentration of 10% hydrogen peroxide. Demonstrating that the use of lemon peels to recover cathode coba lt from spent LIBs can be an ecological and sustainable strategy to minimize the environmental footprint of both types of waste.