Crystallization of Cathode Active Material Precursors from Tartaric Acid Solution.

In this study L-(+)-tartaric acid was used to extract metals from either pure cathode material (NMC111) or black mass from spent lithium-ion batteries. The leaching efficiencies of Li, Co, Ni, and Mn from NMC111 are >87 % at 70 °C, with an initial solid to liquid ratio of 17, and >72.4±1.