Recovery of cathode material of abandoned lithium-ion battery: Comparison of methods and the recent situation of utilization of Chinese factories

Lithium-ion batteries were successfully brought to the forefront of various industries more than 30 years ago, and today they play an important role in the portable power and electric vehicle industries. In the context of expanding markets and increasing industrial and domestic demand, the recycling of materials from batteries after their disposal has received some attention. However, lithium-ion batteries contain inactive chemical components that make recycling complex and expensive. Existing technologies, therefore, need to be analyzed and improved. This paper uses thesis research to summarize, compare, and critique the current methods of recycling batteries to recover valuable cathode metals and the utilization of these methods in factories across China. It was found that the current plants usually use hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and combinations thereof, and that the plants utilize bioleaching, although it is more environmentally friendly. In the end, a conclusion about the current situation and a prediction for future challenges are made.