Extracting valuable metals from used lithium-ion batteries just got easier! 🌱🔋 A new method uses plant oil and water to clean the "black mass"—a low-value mix of anode, cathode, and other materials—in just minutes at room temperature. Ultrasound-created nanoemulsions help separate materials: tiny oil droplets stick to graphite, making it float, while valuable lithium, nickel, and cobalt oxides remain pure. Unlike traditional pyro- and hydrometallurgical methods, this process preserves the crystal structure of recovered materials, making them reusable in new batteries.

This innovation could cut costs and boost sustainability in battery supply chains. Researchers from the Universities of Leicester & Birmingham have already filed a patent! ⚡️♻️