You can recycle lithium-ion batteries to get important metals. These metals include lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Recycling helps keep the environment safe. It also saves natural resources. Each year, more electric vehicle batteries need recycling. Experts think the number will grow a lot. In 2021, it was 200,000 metric tons. By 2035, it may reach 7 million metric tons. The metals you get back could be worth over €15 billion. Recycling batteries lets these materials be used again. It also helps cut down on waste.

Key Takeaways

• Recycling lithium-ion batteries gets back important metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. These metals can be worth more than €15 billion. Batteries can be used again in stationary storage after checking for health and safety. This lets them last longer before recycling. There are different ways to recycle, like pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Each way has its own good points and effects on the environment. Recycling helps lower pollution and saves resources. It also cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40% compared to throwing batteries away. Using recycled materials in new batteries can make them store more energy and last longer. Sometimes, they are even better than batteries made with new materials.

Lithium-Ion Batteries: Reuse and Recycling Steps

Battery Collection and Sorting

People collect old lithium-ion batteries from homes and businesses. They also get them from recycling centers. Next, workers sort the batteries by type and condition. Some batteries still have enough power to be used again. Others need to be recycled completely. Sorting helps workers find important materials. These include lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and aluminum.

The EVAPOR8 project uses a special way to recycle. It shreds lithium-ion batteries in a safe atmosphere. Then, it heats the shredded pieces to get back electrolytes. This keeps other solid parts safe. The crushed material does not have flammable stuff. Workers can sort it to get blackmass and other solid parts. These can be used for new batteries or other things.

Reuse in Stationary Storage

Some batteries do not need recycling right away. They can be used again in stationary storage systems. Before reuse, each battery is tested for health and safety. The battery management system is changed to fit new uses. This helps get more use from each battery before recycling.

Shredding and Material Separation

If a battery cannot be reused, it is shredded and separated. Workers crush the batteries to make them smaller and easier to handle. Shredding is done with nitrogen to lower oxygen and stop fires. After shredding, air treatment, sieving, and sorting are used. These steps separate blackmass, aluminum, copper, and plastic.

• Crushing batteries makes them smaller and easier to work with.
• Workers use special ways to separate the parts that can be recycled.
• The goal is to get lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other materials while keeping the environment safe.
• Batteries that have no charge are shredded into tiny pieces.
• The shredded pieces are sorted to get blackmass and separate metals and plastics.

By getting these materials back, workers help recycle batteries. This process also helps cut down on waste.

Battery Recycling Methods

You can recycle electric vehicle batteries in different ways. Each way works differently and gets back different materials. Knowing about these ways helps you see how recycling helps the planet and saves resources.

Pyrometallurgy (Smelting)

Pyrometallurgy uses very hot heat to melt batteries. Workers put batteries in a furnace that gets up to 1,500°C. The metals melt and split from other parts. This way is common because it lowers fire risks.

Note: Pyrometallurgy can lose some good materials as slag or gas. It also needs a lot of energy.

Here is a table showing how pyrometallurgy affects the environment:

You can get nickel, cobalt, and copper well with this way. But you might lose lithium and aluminum. Pyrometallurgy works quickly but costs more because it uses lots of energy.

Hydrometallurgy (Leaching)

Hydrometallurgy uses liquids to pull metals from batteries. Workers crush batteries and soak them in special liquids. The metals go into the liquid. Later, workers take each metal out of the liquid.

• Hydrometallurgy makes less air pollution than smelting.
• You can get lithium and cobalt at very high rates.

Here is a table showing how much metal you can get back:

This way works well for lithium-ion batteries. It uses less energy than pyrometallurgy but can make dangerous waste. You must handle the waste carefully to keep the planet safe.

Direct Cathode Recycling

Direct cathode recycling keeps the battery’s active material together. Workers do not break the materials into basic metals. They clean and fix the cathode so it can be used again in new batteries.

Tip: Direct recycling saves energy and keeps the material’s quality good.

You can use this way for batteries with good cathodes. Direct recycling gets back a lot of material and costs less than other ways. It also works well for new lithium-ion batteries.

Here is a table comparing how much you get back and the cost for each way:

Electro-Hydrometallurgy

Electro-hydrometallurgy uses electricity and liquids to get metals from batteries. You use electric currents to pull metals out of the liquid. This way lets you pick which metals to get back.

• Electro-hydrometallurgy works better than older ways.
• You can get lithium and other metals more easily.
• This way makes less waste and uses fewer chemicals.

Here is a table showing how electro-hydrometallurgy compares to older ways:

You can see that electro-hydrometallurgy gives better results for recycling lithium-ion batteries. It helps you get more good materials and keeps the planet safe.

Recycling electric vehicle batteries with these ways helps save resources and cut pollution. Each way has good and bad points, but all help with the future of battery recycling.

Environmental and Performance Impact

Environmental Benefits of Battery Recycling

Recycling batteries helps the planet in many ways. It keeps harmful metals out of landfills. This stops them from getting into water and soil. Recycling also saves important resources. Making new batteries uses more energy than recycling. This means less greenhouse gas goes into the air.

Here is a table that lists the main environmental benefits of recycling lithium-ion batteries:

• Recycling lithium-ion batteries can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40% compared to throwing them away.

Tip: When you recycle batteries, you help make the world cleaner and safer for everyone.

Recycled vs. New Material Performance

You might ask if recycled materials work as well as new ones. The answer is yes. Sometimes, recycled materials even work better. Batteries made with recycled materials can have more energy and last longer.

Here is a table that compares recycled materials to new materials:

The quality of recycled materials depends on a few things. Picking the right materials is important. Batteries should be easy to take apart. Using the same battery designs helps recycling. High-purity graphite and strong NMC in electrodes help batteries last longer. Good electrolytes and tough separators make batteries safer and more reliable.

• Pick materials that are valuable and easy to get back.
• Make batteries so they are easy to take apart.
• Use similar battery designs to help recycling.

When you recycle batteries, you help create a system where materials are used again and again. This cuts down on waste and saves resources.

You can help make battery recycling better by supporting new ways, like the microwave process from Rice University. This process gets lithium back fast and safely. As more batteries are needed, more companies and governments will want better recycling. This change helps save money and keeps important materials from being wasted. It also lowers the cost to throw batteries away. When you join recycling programs and companies work together, it helps everyone get closer to a cleaner world.