Reductive Dissolution of NCM Cathode through Anaerobic Respiration by Shewanella putrefaciens

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 58; no. 41; pp. 18345 - 18355
• Main Authors: Kim, Seongryeong, Lee, Kyoung, Kim, Kihyun, Lee, Seung Soo S., Fortner, John D., An, Hyosang, Son, Yeonguk, Hwang, Hoyoung, Han, Yosep, Myung, Yoon, Jung, Haesung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 15.10.2024
• Subjects: Anaerobic conditions; Anaerobic environments; Anaerobic microorganisms; Anaerobic respiration; Anaerobiosis; Bacterial leaching; Cathodes; Cathodic dissolution; Dissolution; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Environmental impact; Leaching; Lithium; Lithium - metabolism; Lithium-ion batteries; Manganese; Microorganisms; Mineralization; Nickel; Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Aquatic and Terrestrial Contaminants; Oxidation-Reduction; Respiration; Room temperature; Shewanella putrefaciens; Shewanella putrefaciens - metabolism; LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622); dissimilatory process; Shewanella putrefaciens; spent lithium-ion batteries; secondary mineralization
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c05486

The consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has considerably increased over the past decade, leading to a rapid increase in the number of spent LIBs. Exposing spent LIBs to the environment can cause serious environmental harm; however, there is a lack of experimentally obtained information regarding the environmental impacts of abandoned cathode materials. Here, we report the interactions between Shewanella putrefaciens, a microorganism commonly found in diverse low-oxygen natural settings, and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622) under anaerobic conditions. We present compelling evidence that the anaerobic respiration of Shewanella putrefaciens triggers ∼59 and ∼78% dissolution of 0.2 g/L pristine and spent NCM622, respectively. We observed that Shewanella putrefaciens interacted with the pristine and the spent NCM622 under anaerobic conditions at a neutral pH and room temperature and induced the reduction of Ni, Co, and Mn, resulting in the subsequent dissolution of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn. Moreover, we found that secondary mineralization occurred on the surface of reacted NCM622. These findings not only shed light on the substantial impact of microbial respiration on the fate of discarded cathode materials in anaerobic environments but also reveal the potential for sustainable bioleaching of cathodes in spent LIBs.