In-situ precipitation of Metal–Organic Frameworks from a simulant battery waste solution

A novel strategy is proposed to synthesize new materials from a simulant lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) model solution containing nickel, cobalt and manganese. Organic linkers, based on carboxylic acid, are introduced as leaching agents to precipitate the metals as polymers from a NiMnCo solution (NMC) in DMF. The supernatant is analysed by ICP-AES to quantify the efficiency and selectivity of the precipitation and the materials are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD) and Thermogravimetric Analyses (TGA). The results have shown the possibility to form MOFs containing different metals from a multimetallic solution. We propose in this work a novel method that can be used to convert waste metal solution into valuable coordination polymers or for metal separation. This concept can give a new direction on the recycling process by changing the economic model through the development of higher value products as the basic raw metals. •A new strategy is proposed to separate metals from battery waste solution.•Multi-Metalic Metal Organic Frameworks are formed.•The solvothermal method has significant effect on shape of the Multi-Metalic MOFs.