What is lithium-ion battery recycling?

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling technologies are advancing rapidly, with higher recovery efficiencies, lower energy demand, and more complex supply chains.

Why are lithium-ion batteries so difficult to recycle?

The materials used in lithium-ion batteries are diverse and constantly changing, which makes the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries challenging. This is because improved energy density, greater safety, and lower cost are the goals of most current lithium-ion battery research and development.

What happens if used lithium-ion batteries are not disposed of properly?

When old lithium-ion batteries are not disposed of properly, this can create serious repercussions, including resource waste and environmental contamination. As a result, in recent years, recycling of used lithium-ion batteries has become a prominent pathway for meeting the growing demand for LIBs.

Does recycling lithium ion batteries use a lot of water?

Water usage for recycling lithium-ion batteries is lower than mining process. Hydrometallurgical processes use aqueous solutions to leach out lithium, which is more water efficient compared to traditional mining (Biswal et al., 2024). However, the water footprint of recycling LIBs depends on the recovery method.

What is lithium-ion battery waste management?

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) waste management is an integral part of the LIB circular economy. LIB refurbishing & repurposing and recycling can increase the useful life of LIBs and constituent materials, while serving as effective LIB waste management approaches.

What is the direct recycling process for spent lithium ion batteries?

The direct recycling process for spent LIBs can be generally categorized into two routes: Route 1, which involves the direct recycling of large batteries, and Route 2, which focuses on the recycling of BM, as shown in Figure 8. Table 6.