US 12,451,533 B2
Method for reducing waste by recovering transition metals from lithium secondary battery
Ji Yun Park, Daejeon (KR); Hyeon Hui Lee, Daejeon (KR); and Keum Jung Yoon, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to SK INNOVATION CO., LTD., Seoul (KR)
Filed by SK INNOVATION CO., LTD., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/334,801.
Application 18/334,801 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2021/019931, filed on Dec. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0006160 (KR), filed on Jan. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0030510 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 10/54 (2006.01); C22B 3/00 (2006.01); C22B 7/00 (2006.01); C22B 47/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/54 (2013.01) [C22B 7/007 (2013.01); C22B 23/0415 (2013.01); C22B 47/0063 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for reducing waste by recovering a transition metal of a lithium secondary battery, comprising:
preparing a cathode active material from a cathode of a lithium secondary battery, wherein the cathode active material comprises a lithium transition metal oxide containing nickel, cobalt and manganese as transition metals;
producing a first leachate by treating the cathode active material with a first acidic solution containing a first reducing agent in an amount less than an amount corresponding to a reaction equivalent of the cathode active material, wherein a content (wt %) of nickel or cobalt in the first leachate is greater than a content (wt %) of manganese in the first leachate; and
producing a second leachate by treating a remaining cathode active material, which excludes a fraction included in the first leachate, with a second acidic solution containing a second reducing agent, wherein a content (wt %) of manganese in the second leachate is greater than a content (wt %) of nickel or cobalt in the second leachate.