Nowadays, Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in advanced technological devices and Electric and Hybrid Vehicles (E&HVs), thanks to their high energy density for weight, reduced memory effect and significant number of supported charging/discharging cycles. As a consequence, the production and the use of Lithium-ion batteries will continuously increase in the near future; for example, it is estimated that EV will outsell the conventional cars in about 20 years and more than 530 million electric vehicles will circulate worldwide by 2040. However, their End-of-Life management is still under development, far from the optimization of recycling processes and technologies, and currently recycling represents the only alternative for the social, economic and environmental sustainability of this market, able to minimize toxicity of End-of-Life products, to create a monetary gain and to lead to the independence from foreign resources or critical materials. This paper analyses the current alternatives for the recycling of Lithium-ion batteries, specifically focusing on available procedures for batteries securing and discharging, mechanical pre-treatments and materials recovery processes (i.e. pyro- and hydrometallurgical), and it highlights the pros and cons of treatments in terms of energy consumption, recovery efficiency and safety issues. Target metals are listed and prioritized, and the economic advantage deriving by the material recovery is outlined. An in-depth literature review was conducted, analysing in depth the existing industrial processes, to show the on-going technological solutions proposed by research projects and industrial developments, comparing best results and open issues and criticalities. By the review reported in this paper, it can be concluded that recycling processes are not fully optimized and well-established yet, thus innovative and advanced solutions are necessary to properly balance the technical feasibility of high-value target material recovery (e.g. Cobalt, Nickel and Lithium).
Lithium-Ion Batteries towards Circular Economy: a Literature Review of Opportunities and Issues of Recycling Treatments
E Mossali;N Picone;M Colledani
2019
Abstract
Nowadays, Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in advanced technological devices and Electric and Hybrid Vehicles (E&HVs), thanks to their high energy density for weight, reduced memory effect and significant number of supported charging/discharging cycles. As a consequence, the production and the use of Lithium-ion batteries will continuously increase in the near future; for example, it is estimated that EV will outsell the conventional cars in about 20 years and more than 530 million electric vehicles will circulate worldwide by 2040. However, their End-of-Life management is still under development, far from the optimization of recycling processes and technologies, and currently recycling represents the only alternative for the social, economic and environmental sustainability of this market, able to minimize toxicity of End-of-Life products, to create a monetary gain and to lead to the independence from foreign resources or critical materials. This paper analyses the current alternatives for the recycling of Lithium-ion batteries, specifically focusing on available procedures for batteries securing and discharging, mechanical pre-treatments and materials recovery processes (i.e. pyro- and hydrometallurgical), and it highlights the pros and cons of treatments in terms of energy consumption, recovery efficiency and safety issues. Target metals are listed and prioritized, and the economic advantage deriving by the material recovery is outlined. An in-depth literature review was conducted, analysing in depth the existing industrial processes, to show the on-going technological solutions proposed by research projects and industrial developments, comparing best results and open issues and criticalities. By the review reported in this paper, it can be concluded that recycling processes are not fully optimized and well-established yet, thus innovative and advanced solutions are necessary to properly balance the technical feasibility of high-value target material recovery (e.g. Cobalt, Nickel and Lithium).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
