폐리튬이온전지 NCM($Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_z)O_2$)양극활물질 내에는 코발트(15 ~ 20%), 니켈(25 ~ 30%), Mn(10 ~ 15%) 및 리튬(5 ~ 10%) 등의 유가금속이 존재한다. 본 연구에서는 폐리튬이온전지 NCM 양극활물질로부터 친환경 유기산인 말릭산을 이용한 유가금속 침출 공정을 연구하였다. 주요공정인자는 말릭산 농도, 과산화수소 농도, 고액비, 반응온도 등이었으며, 침출액 내 금속농도는 ICP-OES(Inductively Coupled Plasma Optic Emission Spectrometer)를 통해 분석하였다. 환원제($H_2O_2$) 첨가로 인해 유가금속의 침출율이 상승하는 효과를 얻었으며, 최적공정인자는 말릭산 2 M, 과산화수소 5 vol.%, 고액비(solid/liquid ratio) 5 wt.%, 반응온도 $80^{circ}C$이었으며, 침출율은 코발트 99.10%, 니켈 99.80%, 리튬 99.75%이었다.
Nickel, cobalt and manganese-based(NCM, $Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_z)O_2$) cathode active materials of spent lithium-ion batteries contained valuable metals such as cobalt(15 ~ 20%), nickel(25 ~ 30%), manganese(10 ~ 15%) and lithium(5 ~ 10%). It was investigated the eco-friendly leaching process for the recovery of valuable metal from spent lithium-ion battery NCM cathode active materials by DL-malic acid($C_4H_5O_6$) as an organic leachant in this research. The experiments were carried out to optimize the process parameters for the recovery of cobalt, nickel and lithium by varying the concentration of lixivant, reductant concentration, solid/liquid ratio and temperature. The leaching solution was analyzed using ICP-OES(Inductively Coupled Plasma Optic Emission Spectrometer). Cathode active materials of 5 wt. % were introduced into the leaching solution which was 2 M DL-malic acid in addition of 5 vol. % $H_2O_2$ at $80^{circ}C$ and it resulted in the recovery of 99.10% cobalt, 99.80% nickel and 99.75% lithium in 120 min. $H_2O_2$ in DL-malic acid solution acts as an effective reducing agents, which enhance the leaching of metals.
