Do Lithium-ion Batteries Have Scrap Value?

With the rapid rise of the new energy sector, electric vehicles and electronic devices increasingly reliant on lithium-ion batteries are proliferating. Consequently, scaling up lithium battery recycling processes is paramount. Recycling reduces waste, recovers valuable materials, and minimises the environmental impact of end-of-life batteries. In recent years, with supportive policies in place, expanding investment in advanced recycling technologies and fostering collaborative partnerships, the battery recycling sector is advancing towards a circular economy model. This addresses resource scarcity challenges and contributes to carbon emission reduction efforts.

Value of Lithium-ion Battery Recycling

Lithium batteries contain substantial quantities of rare metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and aluminium. Additionally, valuable materials like magnetic casings and plastic separators exist within the battery. Effective recycling of these components yields dual benefits: economic value and environmental sustainability. Lithium battery recycling machine, equipped with automated and intelligent systems, achieves this through process innovation and system integration. It establishes a complete closed-loop process transforming ‘end-of-life batteries’ into ‘recycled materials’.

Do Lithium-ion Batteries Have Scrap Value?

Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Process

Pre-treatment

The core equipment employs a multi-stage crushing system. This precisely crushes and grinds lithium battery materials. Subsequent magnetic separation and eddy current sorting efficiently remove ferrous impurities, facilitating subsequent copper and aluminium separation. For recycling positive and negative electrode sheets, the system primarily employs turbine grinders and ultrasonic vibrating screens. This effectively resolves issues inherent in traditional processes, such as excessive aluminium foil fragmentation or residual powder, ensuring complete separation of black powder and metals.

Deep Pyrolysis

A critical step within the oxygen-free pyrolysis system. Materials undergo pyrolysis at 500°C within a high-temperature furnace. Under oxygen-deprived conditions, electrolyte fully volatilises and condenses (achieving up to 99% recovery). Simultaneously, plastic separators and binders undergo complete carbonisation. This facilitates the thorough separation of active materials from positive and negative electrodes. Throughout the process, organic compounds are effectively removed, laying the foundation for subsequent high-purity metal recovery.

Multi-stage Sorting

The lithium battery recycling machine employs ‘air classification and gravity separation’. Utilising aerodynamic principles, it first performs preliminary separation of light and heavy materials. Subsequently, precise adjustments are made based on the density differences between copper and aluminium particles. This ultimately achieves highly efficient separation of copper and aluminium. The resulting black powder and copper/aluminium recovery rates exceed 98%, with purity levels surpassing 98%. This meets battery-grade raw material standards.

Environmental Treatment

The entire lithium battery recycling line incorporates multi-stage exhaust purification, including RTO high-temperature incineration, rapid cooling, alkaline washing, and catalytic combustion. This comprehensively controls generated waste gases. A rapid cooling tower then reduces flue gas temperatures from over 600°C to below 200°C at a rate of ≥50°C/s, fundamentally altering its chemical pathways. The entire production line achieves closed-loop wastewater circulation with zero discharge. Solid waste metal solidification exceeds 99.99%, with VOC removal rates reaching 99.5%. This fully complies with both national and European standards.

Looking ahead, as new technologies like solid-state batteries gain traction, battery recycling production lines will undergo continuous upgrades. Through relentless innovation, we aim to establish a more refined closed-loop system for battery materials. This will transform every end-of-life battery into a ‘green treasure’ within the urban mining landscape.

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