Method for separating individual cathode-active materials from li-ion batteries

A method of processing lithium-ion batteries comprising:

• Preparing cathode active material from a lithium-ion battery by:
• Draining liquid components of the lithium-ion battery;
• Physically separating components of the lithium-ion battery forming a mixture of anode and cathode powders;
• Separating the anode powder from the cathode powder forming a mixed cathode powder comprising two or more cathode active materials;
• and
• Collecting one of the two or more cathode active materials by:
• Mixing the mixed cathode powder with a liquid to form a slurry having 1-20 wt % solid;
• Modifying at least one of the two or more cathode active materials of the mixed cathode powder to be hydrophobic;
• Adding a frothing agent to the slurry;
• Aerating the slurry for 5 to 20 minutes, forming a froth;
• Collecting the froth;
• and
• Concentrating at least one of the two or more cathode active materials from the froth;
• Wherein modifying at least one of the two or more cathode active materials comprises interacting at least one of the two or more cathode active materials with a collector chemical.