Recently, Professor Xu Dake’s research group from Professor Wang Fuhui’s team at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, NEU, made breakthrough progress in the field of bio-recovery of spent lithium-ion batteries. The relevant research findings were published in the authoritative international journal ACS NANO (DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6c12587) under the title “Ascorbate-Promoted Whole-Cell Biocatalysis for Lithium Bio-Recovery from Spent LiFePO₄ Cathodes”. Doctoral student Xia Qiuli, master’s student Yang Chuanwei, and Associate Professor Zhang Danni are the co-first authors; Professor Xu Dake and Associate Professor Zhang Danni are co-corresponding authors; NEU is the primary affiliation and sole corresponding author affiliation.

Figure Schematic diagram of bioleaching of spent lithium iron phosphate batteries by Gluconobacter oxydans and subsequent product applications

This study provides a novel whole-cell catalytic strategy for the mild and efficient bio-recovery of lithium from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries, which is expected to propel the transition from single-metal leaching methods toward a closed-loop bio-recovery platform integrating lithium recovery, residue value-addition, and wastewater reduction. The above work was funded by projects including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the “Revitalizing Liaoning Talents Program” of Liaoning Province.