In lithium-ion battery recycling, soft solvometallurgy based on deep eutectic solvents (DESs) is gaining attention as a metal extraction technique due to its combination of high recovery efficiency, low cost, biodegradability and, in some cases, the ability to dissolve metal oxides.
This application note, co-authored by University of Pavia Professor Eliana Quartarone, is a first step in the use of DES to extract critical metals (Li, Co, Ni, Mn) from pure cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) using the Avio® 220 Max hybrid simultaneous ICP-OES, demonstrating simple and robust measurements in DES-based leachates of common cathode materials used in LiBs, paving the way for extending this application to end-of-life LiBs. The unique hybrid-simultaneous nature of the Avio 220 Max system permits the direct analysis of metal-containing DES solution, which reduces reagents and increases throughput. Its unique optical system and the dual plasma view result in excellent accuracy, reproducibility, and stability. The outstanding sensitivity, robustness, and ease-of-use of the Avio 220 Max make it well suited for quality control in LiBs recycling processes.