#Winemaking acid powers cleaner way for cobalt-nickel recovery from #BatteryWaste

Scientists use #TartaricAcid and electrowinning to split #cobalt and #nickel from battery waste for cleaner #recycling.

By Neetika Walter
Mar 11, 2026

"Scientists have developed a cleaner way to separate cobalt and nickel from lithium-ion battery materials using an electrochemical technique boosted by a naturally occurring acid commonly associated with wine.

[...]

"The researchers say the approach could be particularly useful for '#UrbanMining,' the process of recovering valuable #minerals from discarded #electronics and spent #batteries. Countries with limited mining resources are increasingly looking to #recycling to secure supplies of critical materials.

" '#Electrowinning’s edge in urban mining gives us a practical pathway to turn battery waste into a valuable resource for cobalt and nickel, while also helping the United States reduce its reliance on foreign supply chains,' Liu says."

Learn more:
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/bioacid-electrowinning-cobalt-nickel-battery-recycling

#SolarPunkSunday #Technology #TechnologyBreakthrough #LionBatteries #BatteryRecycling #CriticalMinerals