Sommervill, Roberto, Zhu, Pengcheng, Ali Rajaeifar, Mohammad, Heidrich, Oliver, Goodship, Vannessa and Kendrick, Emma (2021) A qualitative assessment of lithium ion battery recycling processes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 165 . 105219. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105219

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Abstract

With the widespread adoption of e-mobility, there are high numbers of lithium Ion batteries (LIB) entering the waste stream. It is imperative that disposal and recycling strategies are developed and implemented. There is an urgent need for safe, environmentally friendly and economically affordable disposal routes for End of Life (EoL) LIBs. This study has looked at 44 commercial recyclers and assessed their recycling and reclamation processes. A novel qualitative assessment matrix termed “Strategic materials Weighting And Value Evaluation" (SWAVE) is proposed and used to compare the strategic importance and value of various materials in EoL LIBs. The sustainability and quality of recycled material are assessed by comparing the final form or composition after the recycling processes, the industrial processes and the industry type (primary sector, manufacturer or recycler). SWAVE is applied to each company, producing a score out of 20, with a higher number indicating that more materials can be recycled. The separation processes and resources from six of the prominent recycling companies are discussed further. The majority of recyclers use one or more of mechanical treatment, pyrometallurgy, or hydrometallurgy, concentrating upon high value metal extraction rather than closed-loop recycling of the metals or component materials, highlighting an environmental and technological gap. To improve the current circular economy of batteries reuse and repurposing of materials (closed-loop recycling), instead of purely recycling or recovery of metals should be considered for further development. Further studies of environmental trade-offs from recycling or recovering one material in preference to another is required.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering T Technology > TS Manufactures
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Lithium ion batteries , Lithium ion batteries -- Recycling, Refuse and refuse disposal , Recycling (Waste, etc.)
Journal or Publication Title:	Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
ISSN:	0921-3449
Official Date:	February 2021
Dates:	Date Event February 2021 Published 28 October 2020 Available 10 October 2020 Accepted
Date of first compliant deposit:	4 November 2020
Volume:	165
Article Number:	105219
DOI:	10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105219
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:	Project/Grant ID RIOXX Funder Name Funder ID FIRG005 Faraday Institution https://faraday.ac.uk/ FIRG006 Faraday Institution https://faraday.ac.uk/ TS/S004572/1 Innovate UK http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100006041

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