Cuprum Ion-Exchange Recovery from Ammonia Leach Liquors of Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Black Powder

In this study, a comprehensive method for processing lithium-ion battery electrode material is proposed, based on the selective cuprum leaching using an NH4HCO3 liquor followed by its sorption using the ion-exchange resin Purolite S930 Plus. Certain optimal conditions for ammoniacal leaching ensure cuprum recovery at approximately 90%. Loading tests demonstrated a high static sorption capacity of the resin—125.4 mg g–1, while dynamic experiments and elution using H2SO4 showed the possibility of efficient cuprum recovery and resin regeneration. Additional analyses using IR and XPS spectroscopy confirmed the formation of stable coordination bonds between cuprum ions and the functional groups of the resin. The obtained results indicate the promise of the proposed technology for the industrial processing of spent lithium-ion batteries to recover valuable metals.