A high-efficiency and low-carbon strategy for selective lithium recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries: Combining mechanochemical activation with biomass reduction roasting

•Mechanochemical activation and biomass reduction roasting combined unprecedentedly.•The activation achieved milder roasting conditions and a Li leaching rate of 97.2%.•Uniform mixing and structural pre-collapse induced the shift in roasting conditions.•This efficient and low-carbon recycling strategy provides a promising direction.