Cost effective recovery of lithium from lithium ion battery by reverse osmosis and precipitation: a perspective

What is it about?

Production of lithium from primary resources is lagging behind demand (12% versus 16% in 2016), cost of lithium is increasing (was increased between 40-60% in 2016), battery energy density rapidly increasing versus declined cost, and estimated lithium ion battery (LIB) markets size ($77.42 billion by 2024) driven by projected demands for plugged in electric vehicle (PEV) clearly justifies recycling. Wake of PEV technology and projected demand raising several challenges, including, lithium demand/scarcity and futuristic technology to recover lithium from all those LIB wastes. To address the circular economy, steady supply chain security, self-reliance, environment safety, environment directive, energy security, resources conservation, futuristic carbon footprint, WEEE directives and waste crime recycling of LIB is at absolute essential. During last decade, LIB recycling research and industrial recycling of LIB have attracted the interest of researcher, industrialist, and environmentalist significantly. All those reported progress are with interest to the recovery of valuable metals like Co, but rarely lithium recovery has been focused. Hence, this paper address logical hypothesis and application of available technology in a fashion where lithium recycling from LIB can be addressed.

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Why is it important?

• LIB markets size and cost is being driven by plugged in electric vehicle evolution. • Estimated markets size share could be $77.42 billion ~85% by 2024, respectively. • Demand of Li is ahead of production, cost is increasing, and market is swelling. • Less than 1% Li recycled and being disposed in the waste stream in LIB recycling. • Cost effective recycling technology is scarce and challenge needs to be addressed.

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