Recycling of Lithium From Li-ion Batteries

Abstract

Battery recycling is one of the important fields in terms of providing second life to the energy materials through recycling and reuse them for future applications. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are used mainly in almost all the portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, camera, laptops and electric vehicles etc. It is important to have green recycling process for effectively utilizing the full potential of the spent LIBs. This will also reduce disposal of the dangerous heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the environment. There are many recycling processes developed by researchers while keeping in mind the importance of economic and environmental benefits. As a result, many novel and ecofriendly business models are developed based on the recycling processes. However, enormous efforts are required to reach the zero-by-product concept and efficient recycling. In this article, we mainly focus on the process development, economic/environmental benefits and future requirement towards recycling of LIBs. Spent LIBs are classified under the category of a new kind of waste, different from other sections of solid waste. Mainly the advantage of recycling spent LIBs is to eradicate the potential environment impacts and to promote the sustainable development of the LIB industry and process upgrade at industrial level through valuable metal recycling of resources.