Determination of Water-Extractable Total Organic Carbon Content in Recycled Black Mass

User Benefits

- Measurement of the water-extractable TOC content in recycled black mass is possible. - Using the NPOC method, TOC measurement can be simplified thanks to reduced preprocessing. - Utilizing the ASI-L auto sampler enables multiple samples to be measured automatically.

Introduction

Black mass is a concentrated powder created during the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. It contains valuable metals such as cobalt and nickel, which are cathode active materials, as well as graphite, which is an anode active material. Since black mass contains these valuable metals, its recycling and reuse significantly contribute to reducing environmental impact and promoting the efficient utilization of resources. Black mass may contain organic substances derived from used batteries that serve as raw materials, as well as organic substances from the environmental sources introduced during storage and transportation. These organic substances can leach into water or acidic solutions, which may adversely affect the refining process. This not only results in poor-quality recycled materials but also leaves residual organic substances in the waste liquids, potentially causing environmental pollution. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the total amount of organic substances contained in black mass. The amount of these organic substances can be evaluated as total organic carbon (TOC). In China, one of the major importing countries of black mass, the evaluation of water-extractable TOC in black mass is regulated under the Chinese National Standard GB/T 45203- 2024. According to this standard, TOC is measured using a total organic carbon analyzer based on the combustion oxidation method with non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) detection. This article provides an example of measuring water-extractable TOC in black mass using the Shimadzu TOC-L analyzer, a total organic carbon analyzer that uses the combustion oxidation method with NDIR detection.

September 9, 2025 GMT