Lithium battery recycled is a very important task.Recycling valuable metals from lithium-ion batteries, reducing environmental pollution, and alleviating resource scarcity are of significant social and economic importance.

 

Used batteries contain large amounts of heavy metals and waste electrolyte solutions such as acids and alkalis. If discard carelessly, the heavy metals that leach from the used batteries can pollute bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and seas, indirectly threatening human health.

 

Therefore, the proper disposal and recycling of used batteries not only address sources of pollution but also achieve the recovery and reuse of resources.

 

So,can lithium batteries be recycled ?

Lithium batteries can indeed be recycled. Valuable metal elements such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium contained in the batteries can recover and reused. Recycling used batteries allows for the extraction and reuse of these valuable elements, reducing the consumption and waste of the Earth’s limited resources.

 

Resource Recycling

After recycling used lithium-ion batteries, valuable resources can separated and reused through technical means. For example, recycled lithium-ion batteries can recycled for a second time and used as batteries for new energy vehicles or energy storage devices, bringing practical environmental and economic benefits to the whole society.

 

where to recycled lithium batteries ?

Generally, there are lithium battery recycling companies in every city or region, operating the waste power battery recycling business. When choosing a lithium battery recycling company, you need to understand the company’s qualifications and reputation; confirm whether its recycling process is standardized and environmentally friendly; compare the recycling prices of different companies, etc.

 

At the same time, pay attention to safety when handling waste lithium batteries to avoid the battery from being hit, squeezed or short-circuited.

 

Some waste recycling stations may also recycled lithium batteries, and you can also consult your local waste recycling station. If you have a large number of lithium batteries that need to be recycled, you can also contact the relevant battery production companies or battery manufacturers to find out if they have recycling plans or cooperation channels.

 

how to recycled lithium batteries ?

The recycled methods of lithium battery mainly include direct reuse, cascade utilization, disassembly and recycling, and various recycling and processing technologies.

 

Direct reuse means that after testing and screening, used lithium batteries are directly use in equipment with the same or similar purposes. This method has high requirements on battery performance and is generally suitable for situations where battery performance attenuation is small.

 

Secondary utilization is to use waste lithium batteries in equipment with lower energy requirements, such as energy storage systems, electric tools, etc. This method can effectively extend the service life of the battery and reduce resource waste. ‌

 

Disassembly and recycling involves disassembling waste lithium batteries, extracting valuable metal elements, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, etc., and then further processing them to make new batteries or other products. ‌

 

Recycling and processing technology, including continuous waste lithium battery resource disposal equipment using oxygen-free carbonization pyrolysis, waste lithium-ion battery electrode processing methods and waste lithium-ion battery processing methods, high-temperature pyrolysis and pneumatic stripping and sorting methods, pyrolysis methods in the recycling process of waste lithium batteries, multi-stage pyrolysis recovery of black powder systems and methods, etc. ‌

 

‌These methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the common goal is to efficiently recover valuable substances, achieve resource recycling and environmental protection.

 

There are several main steps in battery recycling:

Collection and transportation

Recycling from consumers: lithium batteries in electronic products such as use mobile phones, laptops, and power tools can be collected by setting up recycling points and cooperating with electronic product sellers.

Recycling from enterprises: retired power batteries of new energy vehicles and lithium batteries in industrial equipment are recycled by relevant enterprises.

Safe transportation: professional transportation equipment and packaging are use to ensure that lithium batteries will not be squeez, collide, short-circuited, etc. during transportation. Transportation vehicles should comply with relevant safety standards and be equipped with emergency devices such as fire extinguishing equipment.

 

Pretreatment

Discharge treatment: lithium batteries need to be discharged before recycling to reduce safety risks. Physical discharge or chemical discharge can use to release the power in the battery.

Disassembly: disassemble the lithium battery to separate the outer shell, electrode material, diaphragm and other components. The disassembly process needs to carry out in professional equipment and environment to prevent the battery from exploding, catching fire and other dangers.

Classification: Classify according to the type, specification, capacity, etc. of lithium batteries for subsequent targeted treatment.

 

Material recycling

Shell recycling: The shell of lithium batteries is generally made of metal or plastic and can recycle through crushing, sorting and other processes. Metal shells can be smelte and recycle, and plastic shells can crush and granulate for reuse.

 

Electrode material recycling

 

Positive electrode material: Common positive electrode materials for lithium batteries include lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate, etc. There are two main recycling methods: pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy.

 

Pyrometallurgy: The positive electrode material is smelted at high temperature with other metals to separate the metal elements. This method has high recovery efficiency, but it consumes a lot of energy and will cause certain environmental pollution.

Hydrometallurgy: The positive electrode material is dissolved in an acid or alkaline solution, and the metal elements are separated by chemical precipitation, extraction, ion exchange and other methods. This method has high recovery efficiency and low environmental pollution, but the process flow is relatively complicated.

 

Negative electrode material: The negative electrode material is mainly graphite, and the main recycling methods are physical and chemical methods.

Physical method: Graphite is separated from other materials by crushing, screening, flotation and other processes. This method has low recovery cost, but the recovery purity is relatively low.

 

Chemical method: Graphite is reacted with an oxidant at high temperature to oxidize and decompose the impurities on the surface of the graphite, and then purifier. This method has high recovery purity, but the cost is high.

 

Diaphragm recycling

 

Diaphragms are generally made of polymer materials such as polyolefins and can be recycled through pyrolysis, solvent dissolution and other methods. The recycled diaphragm materials can be reprocessed to produce new diaphragms or other plastic products.

 

Recycling

Material recycling

 

Refine and purify the recycled metal materials to meet the requirements for producing new batteries. For example, the recycled cobalt, nickel, manganese and other metal elements are used to produce new ternary positive electrode materials.

 

Modify and activate the recycled graphite to improve its performance and use it to produce new negative electrode materials.

 

Battery recycling

 

Test and screen the lithium battery recycle, reorganize and refurbish the batteries with good performance for use in energy storage, low-speed electric vehicles and other fields. This method can extend the service life of the battery and reduce costs.

 

The recycled of lithium battery is a complex process that requires professional technology and equipment. At the same time, in order to improve recycling efficiency and reduce environmental pollution, it is necessary to continuously develop new recycling technologies and processes.