Reducing Environmental Impact in LIB Recycling Through Electrochemical Systems

The rising demand for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems has significantly increased the use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These batteries rely on critical metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, making resource recovery essential to meet future demands. Simultaneously, the anticipated surge in battery waste emphasizes the pressing need for sustainable waste management strategies.
However, current recycling technologies for LIBs often pose significant environmental challenges. For example, hydrometallurgical methods—widely employed to recover metals from battery waste—consume large quantities of acids and bases for leaching and separation, resulting in substantial wastewater generation.
To overcome these challenges, we aim to develop innovative electrochemical approaches that minimize the environmental footprint of metal recovery processes. This presentation will focus on the design and application of electrochemical systems for recovering metals from end-of-life LIBs, offering a sustainable pathway to mitigate environmental burdens and support the circular economy.