Waste lithium batteries contain a large number of valuable metals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, etc. Through scientific recycling technology, these metals can be efficiently extracted and reused, so as to achieve the recycling of resources.

At present, the recycling treatment of waste lithium batteries mainly includes physical dismantling, chemical leaching and metallurgical purification steps. Firstly, the batteries are pre-treated by discharging and dismantling to separate the shell, diaphragm and electrode materials. Subsequently, the metal components in the positive and negative electrode materials are separated from the non-metallic components by physical methods such as crushing and sieving. In order to improve the metal recovery rate, hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical technologies are usually used to extract valuable metals such as cobalt, nickel and lithium by acid leaching or high temperature smelting.

With the continuous optimisation of the recycling technology, the recovery rate of lithium batteries will be further improved, promoting the development of green circular economy. Therefore, we should not regard waste lithium batteries as waste, but as valuable ‘urban minerals’, through scientific means to achieve the maximum use of resources.