The influence of reducing agents on the bioleaching recovery of critical elements from spent Li-ion batteries at a high slurry density

The present study investigates the potential of bioleaching in the extraction of Li, Ni, ‎Co, and Mn from black mass. A mixed culture of acidophile consortiums ‎with the highest acid production ability reduced the pH of the culture medium to ‎‎<0.5. Then the acidic medium was implemented as the leaching agent to dissolve metals ‎from 100 g/L of black mass in a 3 h process time. According to the statistical analysis, metal dissolution increased with temperature. The addition of vitamin C meaningfully ‎increased Li dissolution to more than 97%. Also, the removal of cells from the ‎solution significantly enhanced metal dissolution.