Waste Lithium-Ion Batteries Management in China

Abstract

The goal of this study is to analyze the recycling of lithium-ion batteries in China and their recovery value. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electronic products. With the development of science and technology, the future prospects become broader. Nowadays, the world faces the problem of environmental protection and recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries. The resource recovery improves the efficiency of materials and energy usage. Cobalt, lithium and other metals have high recovery potential. Based on the analysis of the available data regarding the recycling and disposal technology of the waste lithium-ion batteries, this paper analyzes the current state and existing problems of recycling and disposal of the waste lithium-ion batteries in China from the point of view of input materials for batteries, production processes, recycling and disposal technologies. Modern materials, used as anodes, cathodes and electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are compared. The most promising are organic sulfides and their polymers intercalated with lithium, lithium hexafluoro­phosphate in organic solvents, etc. The estimated resources that can be recovered from used lithium-ion batteries: for the Chinese market they are the following: 600 tons/year of cobalt, 560 tons/year of copper, 190 tons/year of aluminum, 1000 tons/year of iron, and 40 kg/year of lithium. The processing technologies used in China are relatively outdated, with a low automation level, which leads to environmental pollution. Among the positive trends, it is worth noting the use of the recycling model for waste lithium batteries of electric cars, which provides sources of financing for this process by the manufacturers. Besides, China is actively engaged in the production of nickel hydroxide, cobalt hydroxide and other products from recycled used lithium-ion batteries, which contributes to the efficient use of the resources.