Scientists have invented a cheap and environmentally friendly mechanochemical recovery process for recovering 70% of lithium from battery waste.

CTOnews.com, March 31 (Xinhua) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) recently developed a new recycling process that can effectively recover 70% of lithium without the use of corrosive chemicals and pre-sorting of materials.

At present, nickel and cobalt, copper and aluminum and steel are mainly recovered from battery waste for reuse. The cost of recovering lithium from battery waste is very expensive and almost unprofitable.

CTOnews.com learned from the report that scientists first grind up battery waste and then react with aluminum to form metal composites with water-soluble lithium compounds.

The above source: KIT then dissolves these compounds in water and reclaims lithium by heating and evaporating the water. Because mechanochemical reactions can occur at ambient temperature and pressure, this method is very energy-saving. Another advantage is its simplicity, which will facilitate large-scale use on an industrial scale.

Address of detailed paper: "Universal and efficient extraction of lithium for lithium-ion battery recycling using mechanochemistry"