Valuable metals recycling from spent ternary lithium-ion battery: a review

The ternary lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), widely used in new energy vehicles and electronic products, is known for its high energy density, wide operating temperature range, and excellent cycling performance. With the rapid development of the battery industry, the recycling of spent LIBs, due to their economic value and environmental concerns, has become a hot topic. To date, there is a wealth of literature on the recycling of spent LIBs, being designed to provide an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly method for battery recycling. This article examines the latest developments in various technologies for recycling spent LIBs in both research and practical production, including pretreatment, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, pyro-hydrometallurgy, and direct regeneration. Suggestions are made for addressing challenges based on the benefits and disadvantages of each method. Finally, through a comparison of the feasibility and economic benefits of various technologies, the challenges faced by battery recycling are summarized, and future development directions are proposed.