Chelating extraction of critical metals from cathode of end-of-life lithium titanium oxide batteries: Experiments, machine learning and validation

• Optimal chelating extraction conditions (0.50 M EDTA-2Na, pH 6, 75°C, 180 min, 2% pulp density, 300 r/min) achieved >94% leaching efficiencies for Li, Ni, Co, and Mn from spent lithium-titanate battery cathodes. • pH and temperature are the most significant process variables; increasing pH reduces extraction efficiency while increasing temperature enhances it. • Random forest regression outperformed linear regression for predicting leaching efficiencies, but validation experiments revealed limitations, highlighting the need for more data and alternative models. • Initial oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) emerged as the most influential variable, overshadowing all others, and environmental benefits were confirmed though economic viability requires improvement.