Plasma, Lemon Juice Reclaim 95% of Battery Minerals

New recycling method recovers critical materials like lithium and graphite from spent batteries using mild solvents.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 6:40am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new battery recycling process that uses microwave-induced plasma and mild solvents like citric acid to recover up to 95% of valuable metals and minerals, including lithium and graphite, from spent lithium-ion batteries. The process is more efficient and environmentally friendly than current industrial recycling methods.

Why it matters

Securing a reliable supply of critical minerals used in lithium-ion batteries is a global priority, yet most spent batteries end up in landfills. This new recycling method could help address the strained battery materials supply chain by recovering a high percentage of these valuable resources from battery waste.

The details

The researchers used a brief microwave-induced plasma treatment to break down the metal oxide particles in battery black mass, making it easier to extract over 90% of the metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite using just a citric acid bath at room temperature. This is a significant improvement over current industrial recycling processes that rely on energy-intensive methods and strong acids to recover a lower percentage of the materials.

  • The study was published on March 25, 2026.

The players

Gautam Chandrasekhar

A doctoral student in the materials science and nanoengineering department at Rice University and a first author on the study.

Pulickel Ajayan

The Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Engineering and professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University, who leads the research group Chandrasekhar is part of.

Xiang Zhang

An assistant research professor at Rice University and a co-first author on the study.

Sohini Bhattacharyya

A research scientist in the Ajayan group at Rice University and a corresponding author on the study.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“With plasma pretreatment, almost 95% of metals, including lithium, can be recovered from battery black mass using nothing harsher than the acid found in a lemon.”

— Gautam Chandrasekhar, doctoral student

“This is a breakthrough methodology for recovering all critical minerals from battery black mass with minimal chemical and energy usage.”

— Pulickel Ajayan, professor

What’s next

The technology has been patented, and the team is moving toward commercialization. Early technoeconomic analysis suggests the process could outperform current industrial methods, particularly by recovering graphite in a form suitable for reuse in batteries.

The takeaway

This new recycling process represents a significant advancement in battery recycling technology, allowing for the recovery of a high percentage of critical minerals from spent batteries using mild, environmentally-friendly methods. If successfully commercialized, it could help address global supply chain issues for battery materials while reducing the environmental impact of battery waste.