LAUSR

Abstract Spent coin cells are considered to be dangerous materials for the environment and human health due to their toxic compounds and their long half-lives. The present study investigated the bioleaching of lithium, cobalt, and manganese from spent coin cells using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans at different S/L ratios. It is shown that the S/L ratio of 40 g/L could be an optimal pulp density due to its high metal recovery and economic aspects. At an S/L ratio of 40 g/L, recovery rates of 100%, 88%, and 20% were achieved for lithium, cobalt, and manganese respectively. The results of structural analyses of the spent coin cells powder prior to and after bioleaching corroborated the bacterial activity effectiveness for metals mobilization from spent coin cells. The shrinking core model was employed to specify the rate-controlling step, which suggests that the diffusion of ferric ions plays a significant role in metals mobilization. A blank test was also performed and the results of it and bioleaching were compared; the results denoted the effectiveness of bioleaching.