Recycling li-ion batteries using green chemicals and processes

A process for extracting, recovering and recycling metals and materials from spent lithium ion batteries (LIB) comprising the steps of:

• contacting battery waste product comprising metals and/or metal alloys with a deep eutectic solvent, wherein the deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprises choline chloride and ethylene glycol in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:3, wherein the DES is mixed with the battery waste product in a ratio ranging from 5 g/0.001 g to 5 g/0.1 g;
• leaching the metal from the battery waste product and extracting the metal into the deep eutectic solvent, wherein the leaching and extracting is conducted for 8 to 72 hr at a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 220° C.;
• recovering the dissolved metals ions from the deep eutectic solvent solution;
• and
• regeneration of cathode materials from the recovered dissolved metal ions for new energy application.