Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in daily life. With the growing popularity of electromobility, they are used for electric cars, pedelecs and electric scooters but also for power storage. In addition to steel, aluminum and plastic, a rechargeable battery contains lithium, manganese, cobalt and nickel which are particularly valuable, since resources are limited. For this reason, the recycling of lithium-ion batteries is becoming increasingly important.
Used batteries are collected, dismantled, shredded and thermally treated. What remains is the socalled black mass. The composition of black mass can vary widely, as lithium-ion batteries can differ depending on the type and manufacturer. To determine the recycling process and for economic reasons an accurate analysis is essential.
This application report describes the elemental analysis of lithium, manganese, cobalt and nickel as well as trace elements in black mass using the SPECTRO ARCOS ICP-OES analyzer with dual side-on interface (DSOI) plasma obversation.