Influence of Cell Opening Methods on Electrolyte Removal during Processing in Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

Lithium-Ion batteries (LIBs) are an important pillar for the sustainable transition of the mobility and energy storage sector. LIBs are complex devices for which waste management must incorporate different recycling technologies to produce high-quality secondary (raw) materials at high recycling efficiencies (RE). This contribution on LIB recycling investigated the influence of different pretreatment strategies on the subsequent processing. The experimental study combined different dismantling depths and depollution temperatures with subsequent crushing and thermal drying. Therein, the removal of organic solvent is quantified during liberation and separation. This allows to evaluate the safety of cell opening according to the initial depollution status. These process steps play a key role in the recycling of LIBs when using the low temperature route. Therefore, combinations of pretreatment and processing steps regarding technical and economic feasibility are discussed. Moreover, the process medium and equipment properties for a safe cell opening, the technical recycling efficiencies and their consequences on future industrial LIB waste management are pointed out.