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

A method of processing lithium-ion batteries comprising:

• preparing cathode material powder 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;
• and
• separating the anode powder from the cathode powder, forming the cathode powder material;
• collecting a cathode material by:
• mixing the cathode powder with a liquid to form a slurrying having 1-20 wt % solid;
• modifying at least one of the one or more cathode active materials 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 the least one of the one or more cathode active materials to be hydrophobic from the forth.