Substance flow analysis of lithium for sustainable management in mainland China: 2007–2014

Abstract

Lithium as an energy metal has gained significance in a wide range of application that spread across many industry sectors, along with its key role in emerging electric vehicles. China is a key use and producer of lithium and related products. In order to draw an entire picture of the lithium cycle, this study attempts to quantify the flows, stocks, and loss of lithium in the anthropogenic cycle in China, from 2007 to 2014. Substance Flow Analysis is employed in this paper for data mining and compilation. The results illustrate that production and use increased greatly from 2007 to 2014, due to the fast increase of the lithium ion battery. China’s lithium industry still heavily relied on the import of natural lithium ores, where lithium exports were mainly in the form of lithium ion battery-powered products, including laptop computers, mobile phones and electric bicycles. The stocks of lithium increased gradually from 2007 to 2014, but the loss of lithium from direct use also increased and more quickly. Therefore, the lithium stock in society cannot provide meaningful quantities as the second source for lithium production. It is suggested that the lithium in batteries should be recovered, as most lithium inputs are dispersed back into the environment, while the lithium industry still relies on imported lithium resources in China.