Room temperature acid extraction of Co from LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2 scrap by a mechanochemical treatment

Room temperature extraction of valuable substances from LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2 scra p containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has been carried out using 1 N HNO3 solution after mechanochemical (MC) treatment by a planetary mill with and without Al2O3 powder. Crystalline LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2 in the: scrap was pul verized and became amorphous by MC treatment for 60 and 240 min, respective ly, with and without Al2O3 power. This shows that the addition of Al2O3 Is very effective for MC treatment. Accordingly, Co as well as Ni and Li were extracted at a high yield of more than 90% from the amorphous scrap sample. About 1% of fluorine in the PVDF was dissolved in the filtrate when the Al 2O3 powder was added to the scrap during the MC treatment, while no fluorin e was detected in the filtrate obtained from the ground scrap sample withou t Al2O3 powder.