Organic Electrolytes Recycling From Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are regarded to be the most promising electrochemical energy storage device for portable electronics as well as electrical vehicles. However, due to their limited‐service life, tons of spent LIBs are expected to be produced in the recent years. Suitable recycling technology is therefore becoming more and more important as improper treatment of spent LIBs, especially the aged organic electrolyte, can cause severe environmental pollution and threats to human health. The organic solvents and high concentration of lithium salts in aged electrolytes are always sensitive toward water and air, which would easily hydrolyze and decompose into toxic fluorine‐containing compounds, leading to severe fluorine pollution of the surrounding environment. Hence, recycling aged electrolytes from spent LIBs is an efficient way to avoid this potential risk to the environment. However, several issues inhibit the realization of electrolyte recycling, including the volatile, inflammable, and toxic nature of the electrolytes, the difficulty to extract electrolytes from the electrodes and separators, and various electrolyte compositions inside LIBs from different applications and companies. Herein, the current progress in recycling methods for aged electrolytes from spent LIBs is summarized and perspectives on future development of electrolyte recycling are presented.

Supercritical carbon dioxide technology in synthesis, modification, and recycling of battery materials

“…However, electrolyte is toxic and flammable, therefore the recycling of electrolyte via a green and low‐cost method is essential. [ 114,115 ] Extraction is one of the most effective methods to recycle electrolyte. Typically, SC‐CO 2 is an appropriate extraction solvent that can not only avoid the introduction of impurities, but also simplify the purification process of extraction products.…”

Recycling of Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathode Materials from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Mini-Review

“…105 The used LIBs can be potentially hazardous during recycling due to the presence of flammable electrolytes and toxic materials. 97 Ensuring safe handling and processing of batteries throughout the recycling process is crucial to mitigate risks to workers, equipment, and the environment. The effluents during recycling process can leak into the nearby waterbodies and can even cause landfill fires if left untreated.…”

Migration and Transformation Mechanism of Toxic Electrolytes During Mechanical Treatment of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…In pursuit of economic maximization, most attention has focused on the recovery of valuable metals such as lithium (Li), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni), , while little attention has been paid on liquor electrolytes (10–15 wt %), which contain toxic organic carbonates and fluorides . Volatile organic carbonates in electrolytes exert adverse health effects on human’s health through inhalation and skin contact . Chronically excessive intake of fluorides has devastating effects on animals and humans, such as skeletal fluorosis and dental, dyspnea, severe gastroenteritis, and ventricular abnormalities. , Now, how to effectively prevent from these toxic substances has greatly restricted the scale-up of spent LIBs recycling enterprises.…”