Prepare Your Battery For Collection Or Shipment
Start by isolating the two battery electrodes by wrapping the tips with electrical tape.
Follow the recommendations laid out by the recycling company to prepare the packaging.
Some companies will directly collect your old lithium battery, others will send special packaging and you will handle the shipment.
Now that you are ready to take your solar lithium battery for recycling, check our list of lithium battery recycling companies.
Why Is Processing Lithium
There are three main reasons why processing li-ion batteries can be challenging. First, in many cases it can be difficult to remove these batteries from devices because they are bonded to the hardware.
The second reason: during the dismantling process, it can be very easy to damage the battery. For this reason, professional separation and recycling generally requires specialized tools, processes and controls.
Finally, due to high temperature exothermic reaction, several fire incidents can be attributed to lithium-ion batteries. High-capacity batteries can be discharged to reduce the risk of fire or the release of toxic fumes during processing. The likelihood of a thermal event needs to be classified considerably higher than for conventional batteries, including when batteries are in storage.
Different standards apply in different regions, such as Weeelabex and CENELEC, however waste batteries are covered by European regulation including the WEEE directive and the Batteries directive. Treatment facilities must have the correct permits in place for processing waste batteries.
How Are Lithium Ion Batteries Recycled
Shredding lithium batteries is the current recycling process. Image source: Nature
Batteries are recycled by being shredded, mixing all of their components. Once all of the metals are mixed into a powder, they need to be separated by either being liquified or dissolved in acid so that the desired metal can be retrieved.
Since the process of recycling batteries is still in the early stages, the United States has suggested an enhancement to the Defense Production Act. The goal is to put money towards securing the metals we need for a clean energy transition while also researching and investing in recycling lithium ion batteries.
Alternatively, instead of shredding old batteries, sometimes batteries within an EV can be reused. Lithium ion batteries have a very long lifespan, and while they will lose their ability to power a car, they can still be used for less intense energy storage needs, like backup power.
Currently, when you replace technology such as your EV or storage battery, recycling the old one is a chore. You can find certified electronics recyclers through the EPA website. Alternatively, some manufacturers like Tesla will take back their lithium ion batteries at the end of their life to be recycled.
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Less Use Of Raw Material Extracted From Sensitive Areas
Every recycled tonne of material reduces many tonnes of raw material extraction in sometimes sensitive areas of the world
Sustainability means to avoid the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. In other words, it is sustainable to keep the material already in use in the human sphere and not replace it after first use with fresh material. Any extraction of raw materials from natural resources has a negative impact on the environment, even if upgrade efforts for used materials are necessary.
I like to quickly calculate a rough example based on lithium hard rock mining to demonstrate such impact. As pegmatites occur in veins, there is always the need to excavate waste rock, which can be 10 times the lithium-bearing rocks like spodumene. Lets assume that from 10 million tonnes of rock movement, only 1 million tonne is lithium-bearing rock. In many resources, spodumene ore contains about 1.0% Li2O, only, which leads to anticipation of optimistic recovery rates to 20,000 t LCE. In other words, only 0.2% of all extracted material will be used.
To be fair, for other battery raw materials, the efficiency might be higher and maybe co-products can be extracted to reduce total waste. On the other hand, modern battery recycling processes can extract 90% by weight for new uses. By the way, the lithium content of a battery is a multiple higher as in rock , which is a good starting point for recycling.
What Is The Difference Between Lithium And Lithium Ion Batteries
The main difference between lithium and lithium ion batteries is that lithium ion batteries are rechargeable while lithium batteries are not. Lithium batteries are used to power small household appliances such as fire alarms while lithium ion batteries power larger pieces of technology, such as a cell phone or laptop.
While lithium batteries can be recycled, lithium ion batteries are more complex. The recycling process of lithium ion batteries can be dangerous if they are recycled incorrectly, as their components make them highly flammable.
Lithium ion batteries are popular for battery storage and EVs because they can hold a decent amount of power in a small amount of space. They also have a long lifespan and can withstand repeat charges day after day, making them ideal for EVs.
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The Voltage And/or Capacity Drops
Check what kind of lithium battery you have and find the manufacturers specs. This is where you can find info on voltage and capacity. Then try to measure the voltage and resistance when fully charged. Heres the way to do it for a laptop battery.
If these values match with the manufacturers specs, youre good to go. If not, start looking for a replacement.
The Recycling Process Used By The Lithium
The Lithium-ion battery recycling business is focused on reprocessingconsumed lithium-ion batteries into brand new batteries. This process often involvesdeconstructing lithium-ion batteries and splitting their many components toreuse them in a new battery.
The process of recycling Lithium-ion batteries has manysteps. First, all spoiled or faulty batteries are detached from rotation by sortingthem out from operative batteries. Following this, all elements in each lithium-ionbattery that are being recycled must be recognised, frequently requiring an amalgamationof inductively coupled plasma spectrometry and optical microscopy. Most regainedcathodes can be detached into cobalt, which is recycled to make new electrodes,copper, nickel and iron. Sorting out these metals is relatively easy they havemore diverse densities than other components of the battery therefore, theyfloat to different measures of a mixture as its heated up to its meltingpoint. This obtained liquid metal alloy is then transferred into moulds thathave a similar structure as small plates and hardened into shapes that can be fitted inside fresh batteries. Finally,lithium is required to be reclaimed: You mix it with mineral acidshydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid and electrolyse it. The electrolysis pullsout pure lithium that sells back to Recyclers.
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Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Process |
- Electricity
- Maintenance
Government support can give you subsidies and let you haveloans at lower costs too.
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Toxic To Humans When Broken Down Or Damaged
We dont have to wait for the batteries to end up in the landfill they can be toxic even before they are packed with curbside trash.
Damaged lithium-ion batteries may release fine particles with the aerodynamic diameters of less than 10 or 2.5m the notorious PM10 and PM2.5.
The problem is that these particles contain matter-bound metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, or lead.
Dust can enter the respiratory system and cause a variety of health problems, such as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, carcinogenicity, and endocrine system imbalance.
Hydrofluoric acid is a hazardous gas that can leak from used-up lithium-ion batteries. HF is highly corrosive and can enter the human body through the skin or by inhaling. It readily penetrates the skin and settles in deeper layers where it releases its toxic components.
It is estimated that between 20 and 200 mg of HF can be released per W of the electric vehicle battery pack.
This easily amounts to more than 80-800 times the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Immediate Danger to Life or Health level.
Do not under any circumstance try to take apart a lithium-ion battery!
Leave it to the professionals who know how to protect themselves and the environment.
Reduction In Environmental Footprint
Recycling reduces the CO2-footprint, water usage, nitrogen-oxide and sulphur-oxide emissions compared to raw material production from newly extracted resources, tremendously
Raw material conversion from hard rock is very energy consuming. For lithium for example, the first production step is decrepitation , which is a forced crystal change in rotating furnaces at above 1,000°C. These furnaces are typically operated by natural gas or, widespread in China, operated by coal. In addition, significant amounts of reagents, solvents and other chemicals are consumed to produce battery-grade chemicals. For nickel, copper and the like the footprint is similarly poor.
Every published recycling footprint for hydrometallurgical processes, I am aware of, report massive savings in emissions.
In addition, in many countries mining will have a negative impact on social wellbeing, and country-specific governance is not acceptable.
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Start Your Solar + Storage Shopping Journey With Energysage
Home batteries are rapidly gaining popularity, and for good reason. Especially when paired with solar panels, a home battery can help you save money on electric bills and keep the lights on during a blackout. The best way to make sure youre getting the best deal on a home storage system? Compare multiple options on the EnergySage Marketplace. On EnergySage, installers compete for your business, so you can know youre getting quoted high quality products at competitive prices. Start your home energy journey today.
Other Ways You Can Help
- Buy Rechargeable Batteries and a Battery Charger. Devices powered by ordinary AAA, AA, C, D, and 9-volt batteries can be powered by rechargeable batteries of those sizes.
- Look for Portable Electronic Devices that Do Not Use Batteries. Some devices instead use a capacitor that is recharged, typically by shaking the device or by normal use rather than batteries. See Alternative Power Products for details.
- Reduce. Use single-use batteries wisely to avoid unnecessary replacement and disposal.
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With $335m To Invest In Lithium
Building on prior announcements, the agency is seeking ideas on collection, transportation, processing, and recycling of batteries and scrap materials that are used in electric vehicles.
The U.S. Department of Energy issued a request for information this week to help inform the investment of $335 million in funding for lithium-ion battery recycling that was included in the 2021 infrastructure law.
Battery recycling doesnt just remove harmful waste from our environment it also strengthens domestic manufacturing by placing used materials back into the supply chain, said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a statement, adding that securing our supply chain here at home will allow more Americans to benefit from the many clean technologies powered by lithium batteries.
The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Joe Biden in , contains numerous recycling and renewable energy initiatives. The agency said this latest request builds on a May announcement about $3.16 billion in funding from the law for domestic manufacturing of EV batteries. That included $60 million in funding focused on second-life applications for EV batteries as well as new recycling processes.
The RFI encourages project proposals that would create jobs in low-income communities and tribal areas and jobs for workers previously employed in manufacturing, coal power plants or coal mining.
RFI responses are due by 5 p.m. EST on Oct. 14.
Hyper Revenue Growth As North American Spoke Facilities Come Online
The company last reported earnings for its fiscal 2022 second quarter which ended in April. The quarter saw revenue come in at $8.65 million, a 3227% increase from the year-ago quarter and a $2.51 million beat on consensus estimates. This was on the back of the company’s third Spoke in Arizona starting operations.
The big news from the quarter was Glencore’s $200 million investment in Li-Cycle which will see the world’s largest mining company send spent lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap to the network of Spokes. Li-Cycle will also supply Glencore with recovered battery metals including lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel from its facilities with Glencore also given a seat on Li-Cycle’s board. The investment from Glencore is a huge vote of confidence and one that has been compounded by a further $50 million investment from South Korea’s LG Chem. Koch Industries is also an investor. This meant the company’s pro-forma cash and equivalents position grew to reach $760 million or around 64% of the current $1.18 billion market cap.
Cash burn from operations came in at $17.2 million with capital expenditure of $12.9 million, down from $18.7 million in the previous quarter. The company is set to publish fiscal 2022 third quarter earnings in a few weeks and is likely going to report a continued ramp in revenue growth.
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How Do I Dispose Of Old Batteries
Check with your local municipality’s laws and regulations to see what is allowed in your area. As you learned above, many batteries need to be recycled for the health and safety of the public and the environment. Many local municipalities have recycling centers where you can take your spent batteries for proper disposal. Battery Council International has a great recycling resource to learn about how all the parts of lead batteries are recycled. It is important to remember that the only batteries that you can safely dispose of in your household trash are normal alkaline batteries like AA, AAA, D and more.
Dot’s Hazardous Materials Regulations
Lithium batteries are hazardous materials and are subject to DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations . This includes packaging and standard hazard communication requirements and hazmat employee training requirements. Hazard communication requirements are found in part 172 of the HMR and requirements specific to lithium batteries are found in 49 CFR section 173.185.
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Lithium Battery Adr Packaging
Lithium batteries are classified as dangerous goods and as such, require the use of special storage and transportation barrels. At Recover, we provide businesses with everything they need to keep their batteries secured safely.
Our clients receive UN-certified barrels in which to place the batteries, and vermiculite to neutralise them. We also provide our customers with expert guidance on how to use these materials to pack the batteries safely.
How To Dispose Of Lithium
There are so many products that use lithium-ion on batteries on the market today: vape pens, phones, laptops, power tools, and much more. Are there any battery recycling programs? Are batteries hazardous waste? Is it ok to throw batteries in the garbage? As a consumer, it is important to know how to dispose of lithium-ion batteries properly.
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How Does A Lithium
Lithium-ion batteries are made up of thin layers of several metals that are pressed together and folded to form a small battery pack. A lithium-ion battery has a positive and negative terminal, just as youd find in any battery. The positive side is your cathode, while the negative side is the anode.
Lithium is an element thats stored between layers of graphite in the copper anode. Cobalt is found in the aluminum cathode. Lithium likes to shed its ions regularly, so they get stored in the graphite to pass through an electrolyte solution and semipermeable separator where they go into the cathode and mix with cobalt to balance the charge build-up and create the power that runs your electronic device.
When the battery is no longer fully charged, plugging it in sends the lithium back from the cathode to the anode to restart the process. These layers are folded and topped with the battery circuitry thats designed to prevent batteries from overcharging and exploding or causing fires.
A Better Way To Recycle Lithium Batteries Is Coming Soon From This Princeton Startup
Billions of dead lithium-ion batteries, including many from electric vehicles, are accumulating because there is no cost-effective process to revive them. Now Princeton researchers have developed an inexpensive, sustainable way to make new batteries from used ones and have spun off a company to scale up the innovation.
What we see is that people would be willing to give us their dead batteries that are currently just sitting around. They receive back from us new pristine cathode materials for new batteries cheaper than they could manufacture on their own, said Chao Yan, co-founder and CEO of Princeton NuEnergy and a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
The Princeton NuEnergy team : Yiguang Ju, Chao Yan, Bruce Koel and Xiaofang Yan.
Princeton NuEnergy uses a process developed by researchers who combined expertise from diverse fields to solve a longstanding problem: how to turn spent cathode materials, or the expensive part of a lithium-ion battery, which contain elements such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium, into pristine new cathodes.
The teams method for process recovers much of the structure and composition of the used cathode, along with cobalt and lithium. The method for generating fresh cathode material reduces water use by approximately 70%, and energy use and emissions by 80%, according to the researchers.
Acid breaks everything down to ground zero, said Yan.
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What Can We Do About The Hazards Of Lithium
Some cities have taken to spreading the word about this hazard. Many electronics stores offer battery return programs, so it is worth the trouble to ask when you purchase anything with a lithium-ion battery.
Its good to know there is hope in recycling batteries! But dont just drop them in your home recycling bin! There are many drop off programs to recycle your batteries depending on your location.
Its also nice to hear battery drop off bins can be used as a school or community fundraiser in some areas!
There are so many types of batteries that it is difficult to know how to properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries. One thing is for sure, be cautious and always double check!