Key Aspects of Sustainable Development Toward Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are uninterruptible power supplies that are widely used in domestic electrical appliances, electric vehicles, and renewable energy, military, aerospace, etc. applications. The demand for LIBs is growing, which a growing environmental concern is given the multicomponent composition of batteries and unresolved disposal issues. Environmental and resource-saving aspects require a closed recycling cycle, since batteries contain materials and their use allows reducing the carbon footprint of LIB production. The approach involving the extraction of cathode and anode materials for the subsequent recovery of valuable materials has been studied and performed. After disassembly and annealing, the chemical composition of black mass has been presented. Thermal purification as a method for the recovery of valuable metals and carbon material via the lab reactor has been proposed. This chapter is dedicated to the key aspects of sustainable development of recycling spent LIBs by recovering valuable metals and carbon material. In this chapter, the approach involving the extraction of cathode and anode materials for the subsequent recovery of valuable materials has been studied and performed. Thermal purification as a method for the recovery of valuable metals and carbon material via the lab reactor at 3000 ° C has been proposed. Regarding environmental issues, it is also important to develop a new engineering concept of an industrial purification unit based on electric supply from renewable energy sources that will significantly decrease operating costs.