Resource recovery and regeneration strategies for spent lithium-ion batteries: Toward sustainable high-value cathode materials.

Traditional cathode recycling methods have become outdated amid growing concerns for high-value output and environmental friendliness in spent Li-ion battery (LIB) recycling. Our study presents a closed-loop approach that involves selective sulfurization roasting, water leaching, and regeneration, efficiently transforming spent ternary Li batteries (i.e., NCM) into high-performance cathode materials. By combining experimental investigations with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we elucidate the mechanisms within the NCM-C-S roasting system, providing a theoretical foundation for selective sulfidation. Utilizing in situ X-ray diffraction techniques and a series of consecutive experiments, the study meticulously tracks the evolution of regenerating cathode materials that use transition metal sulfides as their primary raw materials. The Li-rich regenerated NCM exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance, including long-term cycling, high-rate capabilities, reversibility, and stability. The closed-loop approach highlights the sustainability and environmental friendliness of this recycling process, with potential applications in other cathode materials, such as LiCoO2 and LiMn2O4. Compared with traditional methods, this short process approach avoids the complexity of leaching, solvent extraction, and reverse extraction, significantly increasing metal utilization and Li recovery rates while reducing pollution and resource waste.

Short-Process Regeneration of Highly Stable Spherical LiCoO2 Cathode Materials from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries through Carbonate Precipitation.

High-efficacy recycling of spent lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2 ) batteries is one of the key tasks in realizing a global resource security strategy due to the rareness of lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co) resources. However, it is of great significance to develop the innovative recycle methods for spent LiCoO2 , simultaneously realizing the efficient recovery of valuable elements and the regeneration of high-performance LiCoO2 . Herein, a novel strategy of regenerating LiCoO2 cathode is proposed, which involves the preparation of micro-spherical aluminum (Al)-doped lithium-lacked precursor (Li2x Co1-x-y Al2/3y CO3, remarked as "PLCAC") via ammonium bicarbonate coprecipitation. The comprehensive conditions affecting particle growth kinetics, morphology and particle size the has been investigated in detail by physical characterizations and electrochemical measurements. And the optimized Al-doped LiCoO2 materials with high-density sphericity (LiCo1-z Alz O2 , remarked as "LCAO") shows a high initial specific capacity of 161 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and excellent capacity retention of 99.5 % within 100 cycles at 1 C in the voltage range of 2.8 to 4.3 V. Our work provides valuable insights into the featured design of LiCoO2 precursors and cathode materials from spent LiCoO2 batteries, potentially guaranteeing the high-efficacy recycling and utilization of strategic resources.

Long-Term Safety and Quality of Life after Vibroplasty in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Short/Long Incus Process Coupler.

OBJECTIVE: The study shows the long-term effectiveness, safety, and quality of life after Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) implantation in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) using the short process coupler (SP) or the long process coupler (LP). METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 77 VSB cases. Follow-up (F/U) time-dependent objective measurements (audiological outcomes), subjective data collection (quality-of-life questionnaire), and safety measures are presented. RESULTS: Sixty-two ears were included in the analysis with up to 116 months of postsurgical F/U data (mean 32.15 ± 37.97 months LP and SP coupler). Fifty-three ears (13 bilateral cases) received the LP coupler and 9 subjects the SP coupler. The post-operative bone conduction thresholds remained stable and, in both groups, <10 dB. The benefit in word recognition scores measured at 65 dB SPL and 80 dB SPL showed no significant difference between the couplers (p = 0.559 and p = 0.088, respectively). The functional gain was not significantly different (p > 0.05) with a mean of 20.91 ± 9.77 and 17.19 ± 5.75 for LP and SP coupler, respectively. The utility score deciphered from the Assessment of Quality-of-life Questionnaire-8 dimensions revealed a mean score of 0.75 ± 0.16 which is not significantly different to the age- and sex-matched healthy control group with 0.81 ± 0.02 (p = 0.3547). CONCLUSION: The Incus Vibroplasty utilizing both couplers is a safe and effective method to treat mild-to-severe SNHL. Both fixation methods of the floating mass transducer exhibit good clinical and audiological outcomes with high patient quality of life. The SP coupling method can be a good alternative when the long process is anatomically inaccessible, or the approach is limited due to anatomical reasons.

[Effects of Pretreatment on Hydraulic Irreversible Membrane Fouling During Ultrafiltration Short Process: A Pilot Study].

Pilot-scale performances for ultrafiltration of Dongjiang river water without and with micro-coagulation and coagulation-adsorption-sedimentation pretreatments were conducted to investigate the effects of pretreatments on hydraulic irreversible fouling of ultrafiltration short processes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) were employed to identify foulants responsible for irreversible fouling during ultrafiltration with and without pretreatments. The results showed that the hydraulic irreversible fouling rate was 0.16 kPa·d-1 with micro-coagulation pretreatment at 10 L·(m2·h)-1, while the rate without pretreatment was 0.32 kPa·d-1 at the same flux. Meanwhile, the fouling rate with coagulation-adsorption-sedimentation pretreatment was almost zero at the same flux. Furthermore, when the flux increased to 17 L·(m2·h)-1, the irreversible fouling was not observable with coagulation-adsorption-sedimentation pretreatment (backwashing every 24 hours). Properties of foulants from external membrane and internal membrane after backwashing showed that the protein-like and fulvic-like substances were responsible for irreversible fouling in Dongjiang river water. Furthermore, structural alteration of cake layer resulted in less cake resistance and higher backwash efficiency after micro-coagulation pretreatment, leading to less irreversible fouling. Coagulation-adsorption-sedimentation pretreatment decreased irreversible fouling with higher removal efficiency of protein-like and fulvic substances, which were the foulants responsible for irreversible fouling during ultrafiltration. Both micro-coagulation and coagulation-adsorption-sedimentation pretreatments decreased irreversible fouling during ultrafiltration short process.

HRCT Correlation with Round Window Identification during Cochlear Implantation in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of High Resolution Computer Tomography (HRCT) temporal bone measurements in predicting the actual visualization of round window niche as viewed through posterior tympanotomy (i.e. facial recess). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study of 37 cochlear implant candidates, aged between 1and 6 years, who were referred for HRCT temporal bone during the period December 2013 to July 2014. Cochlear implantation was done in 37 children (25 in the right ear and 12 in the left ear). The distance between the short process of incus and the round window niche and the distance between the oval window and the round window niche were measured preoperatively on sub-millimeter (0.7 mm) HRCT images. We classified the visibility of round window niche based on the surgical view (i.e. through posterior tympanotomy) during surgery into three types: 1) Type 1- fully visible, 2) Type 2- partially visible, and 3) Type 3- difficult to visualize. The preoperative HRCT measurements were used to predict the type of visualization of round window niche before surgery and correlated with the findings during surgery. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation for the distance between the short process of incus and the round window niche and for the distance between the oval window and the round window niche for Types 1, 2, and 3 were 8.5 ± 0.2 mm and 3.2 ± 0.2 mm, 8.0 ± 0.4 mm and 3.8 ± 0.2 mm, 7.5 ± 0.2 mm and 4.4 ± 0.2 mm respectively, and showed statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) between them. The preoperative HRCT measurements had a sensitivity and specificity of 92.3% and 96.2%, respectively, in determining the actual visualization of round window niche. CONCLUSION: This study shows preoperative HRCT temporal bone measurements are useful in predicting the actual visualization of round window niche as viewed through posterior tympanotomy.

Antropometría del yunque y articulaciones incudo-maleolar e incudo-estapedial en humanos: un estudio anatómico directo / Anthropometry of the incus and incudomalleolar and incudostapedial joints in humans: a direct anatomical study

Los estudios actuales sobre variaciones anatómicas del yunque en humanos a partir del registro morfométrico son insuficientes. Las características estructurales y dimensionales del yunque son registradas en 23 muestras de población mestiza adulta Colombiana. Las medidas registradas involucraron el cuerpo, la articulación incudo-maleolar, el proceso largo, el proceso corto y la articulación incudo-estapedial. Solo ocho de los treinta y cinco registros tomados en este estudio pudieron ser comparados concienzudamente con otros estudios anteriores que mostraron similitudes. El largo total del yunque fue de 6,51 mm (DE 0,32), la longitud del proceso largo del yunque fue de 5,35 mm (DE 0,25), la distancia entre proceso largo y corta fue de 6,06 mm (DE 0,35) y la proporción de longitudes entre ambos procesos fue de 82,18 por ciento (DE 8,9). Conforme a la población estudiada se encontró variación pareada en la anatomía del yunque en solo tres de los registros tomados, sin embargo, consideramos que es un hueso morfométricamente uniforme y estable.

Current studies on anatomical variations of the incus in humans from the morphometric register are insufficient. Structural and dimensional characteristics of the incus are registered in 23 samples of Colombian adult mestizo population. Registered measures involved incus body, incudo-maleolar joint, long process, short process and incudo-stapedial joint. Only eight of the thirty-five records taken in this study could be thoroughly compared to other anterior studies, which showed similarities. The total length of the anvil was 6,51 mm (SD 0.32), the length of the long process of the incus was 5.35 mm (SD 0.25), the distance between processes long and short was 6.06 mm (SD 0.35) and the ratio of lengths between both processes was 82.18 percent (SD 8.9 percent). In accordance with the studied population we found paired variation in the anatomy of the incus in only three of the records taken, however, we believe that it is a uniform and morphometrically stable bone.