Lithium Ion Battery Recycling

Lithium ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery. They are the main power source for things like:

• Electric vehicles
• Solar power storage
• Emergency power backups (UPS)
• Power tools

A couple of metals that make up lithium ion batteries include nickel, cobalt and copper. There are also different kinds of these batteries that contain…

• Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2)
• Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA)
• Nickel Manganese Oxide (NMC)

Eventually, lithium ion batteries wear out and must be replaced. This is generally a direct result of aging, overuse and overcharging. In this way, recycling lithium ion batteries is significant to reuse valuable materials, decrease space occupied in landfills, protect natural resources and reduce pollution. There is even a potential profit that can made by selling used lithium ion batteries to us for recycling. We sell these batteries also.

Now that lithium ion batteries themselves have been discussed, it is crucial to understand the process.

To reuse the valuable materials contained inside lithium ion batteries, one must learn about lithium ion battery recycling. This process consists of:

• First, recycling companies buying or selling scrap lithium ion batteries. Therefore, they get cobalt, nickel and copper.
• Then, these companies deactivate the batteries. This must happen before the recycling process begins.
• Afterwards, the lithium ion batteries are placed in a special room. Along these lines, this room is oxygen-free.
• Subsequently, the process of extracting metals from their ores occurs (this is called hydrometallurgy ).
• Next, the process of using aqueous solutions to extract metal from other metal bearing materials occurs (this is called leaching).
• Furthermore, the battery components are separated into three different categories. These categories include cobalt, steel and aluminum, copper and plastic.
• Finally, recycling companies sell the recycled materials.

Since the framework has been discussed, one must understand why it is so essential to recycle lithium ion batteries.