The set of 333-ABC presented here yields insights into further developing technologies based on the CMO surface and its interface with aqueous media or the gas phase. Understanding the pH dependent behavior of CMO compositions is key to devising new strategies for cost-effective aqueous material processing, increasing battery longevity, and how CMOs might break down in the environment. Recent work has pointed towards the use of waste CMOs as catalysts for the surface adsorption and oxidation of organic compounds. The acid-assisted leaching of Li and Co cations to create surface vacancies in LCO was shown to adsorb and oxidize benzene, but the pH dependent thermodynamics of surface metal release and structures presented here could be used as a guide for design of more specific, tailorable catalytic systems.