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Review of Current Battery Recycling Technology Pathways
Ewan Wingate, Yanjun Liu
Bechtel Mining &Metals
Vivek Sista
Bechtel Manufacturing &Technology
Wentao Liang
Bechtel Energy
ABSTRACT: With the demand for batteries growing annually, the question becomes how can we sustain the
supply of raw materials. The answer lies developing cost-effective recycling industries to recover and recycle the
materials used in the assembly of anodes and cathodes. Current methods include direct recycling or the use of
a combination of mechanical, chemical and pyrometallurgical processing to separate and concentrate the raw
materials such as copper, zinc, aluminium, nickel, cobalt, lithium, phosphorus, iron and graphite. This paper
will review the current industrial trends being deployed in the recovery of spent battery materials and their
ability to be recycled back to the battery manufacturers.
INTRODUCTION
In the realm of modern technology, batteries stand as both
silent sentinels and dynamic changemakers. From power-
ing the most delicate of handheld devices to energizing
robust electric vehicles, their role is ubiquitous and indis-
pensable. However, as we embrace this era of electrification,
a critical challenge casts its shadow – the environmental
and resources implications of battery production and end-
of-life disposal. It is within this context that this paper
explores the burgeoning field of battery recycling, an essen-
tial pillar in the quest for sustainable technology.
Presently, we stand at a crossroads where the escalating
demand for batteries intersects with the imperative need
for sustainable practices. As per insights from the Shanghai
Metals Markert’s December 2023 webinar, the expected
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in global lithium-
ion battery demand from 2018 to 2027 is astonishing, with
figures reaching as high as 53% in the energy storage system
(ESS) sector. This rapid expansion not only underscores the
importance of batteries in our future energy landscape but
also amplifies the urgency to develop efficient and sustain-
able recycling methods.
Various recycling pathways are examined, including
the traditional cascade approach and more holistic, circular
strategies. This examination is not just an academic pur-
suit but a practical one, rooted in the stark reality of finite
mineral resources and the environmental impact of battery
waste.
Innovative solutions such as repurposing of end-of-life
(EOL) lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for instance, converting
EV batteries packs into stationary energy storage systems—
are also explored. This not only exemplifies resource effi-
ciency but also opens new avenues for extending the life-
cycle of battery materials.
Another key concept that will influence the recycling
of end of EOL LIB systems is how the circularity and sus-
tainability of the EOL LIB recycling operations takes place.
Part of the discussion on LIB recycling pathways is the need
to understand the impact of a cascade recycling strategy
versus a more circular and sustainable recycling strategy.
Review of Current Battery Recycling Technology Pathways
Ewan Wingate, Yanjun Liu
Bechtel Mining &Metals
Vivek Sista
Bechtel Manufacturing &Technology
Wentao Liang
Bechtel Energy
ABSTRACT: With the demand for batteries growing annually, the question becomes how can we sustain the
supply of raw materials. The answer lies developing cost-effective recycling industries to recover and recycle the
materials used in the assembly of anodes and cathodes. Current methods include direct recycling or the use of
a combination of mechanical, chemical and pyrometallurgical processing to separate and concentrate the raw
materials such as copper, zinc, aluminium, nickel, cobalt, lithium, phosphorus, iron and graphite. This paper
will review the current industrial trends being deployed in the recovery of spent battery materials and their
ability to be recycled back to the battery manufacturers.
INTRODUCTION
In the realm of modern technology, batteries stand as both
silent sentinels and dynamic changemakers. From power-
ing the most delicate of handheld devices to energizing
robust electric vehicles, their role is ubiquitous and indis-
pensable. However, as we embrace this era of electrification,
a critical challenge casts its shadow – the environmental
and resources implications of battery production and end-
of-life disposal. It is within this context that this paper
explores the burgeoning field of battery recycling, an essen-
tial pillar in the quest for sustainable technology.
Presently, we stand at a crossroads where the escalating
demand for batteries intersects with the imperative need
for sustainable practices. As per insights from the Shanghai
Metals Markert’s December 2023 webinar, the expected
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in global lithium-
ion battery demand from 2018 to 2027 is astonishing, with
figures reaching as high as 53% in the energy storage system
(ESS) sector. This rapid expansion not only underscores the
importance of batteries in our future energy landscape but
also amplifies the urgency to develop efficient and sustain-
able recycling methods.
Various recycling pathways are examined, including
the traditional cascade approach and more holistic, circular
strategies. This examination is not just an academic pur-
suit but a practical one, rooted in the stark reality of finite
mineral resources and the environmental impact of battery
waste.
Innovative solutions such as repurposing of end-of-life
(EOL) lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for instance, converting
EV batteries packs into stationary energy storage systems—
are also explored. This not only exemplifies resource effi-
ciency but also opens new avenues for extending the life-
cycle of battery materials.
Another key concept that will influence the recycling
of end of EOL LIB systems is how the circularity and sus-
tainability of the EOL LIB recycling operations takes place.
Part of the discussion on LIB recycling pathways is the need
to understand the impact of a cascade recycling strategy
versus a more circular and sustainable recycling strategy.