Lithium Ion Battery Recycling

What are Lithium Ion Batteries?

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

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.

How to Recycle Lithium Ion Batteries

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.

The Importance of Lithium Ion Battery Recycling

The recycling of lithium ion batteries provides various positive environmental impacts:

  • Reuses valuable materials
  • Reduces space occupied in landfills
  • Protects natural resources
  • Decreases pollution

There are various reusable materials inside lithium ion batteries including cobalt, nickel and copper. By reusing these materials, less space is occupied in landfills which protects natural resources. Thus, this leads to overall pollution being diminished.

People, organizations and governments are pushing toward a greener world. Recycling of lithium ion batteries is an enormous step forward in making this goal a reality.

Lithium Ion Battery Recycling

Overall, lithium ion batteries are a power source for electric vehicles, solar power storage, power tools and more. They also contain an abundance of reusable materials. Recycling lithium ion batteries reuses valuable materials, decreases space occupied in landfills, protects natural resources and more. We even purchases and sells lithium ion batteries to anyone interested in selling or buying.

To learn more about how professionals recycle lithium ion batteries, click here to contact us.