Multi-perspective evaluation on spent lithium iron phosphate recycling process: For next-generation technology option

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Spent lithium iron phosphate batteries are a growing concern.
• Efficient recycling methods are vital for sustainable industrial development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate and compare four typical spent lithium iron phosphate recycling processes.
• To provide guidance for industrial recycling process selection based on environmental, economic, and technical factors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized environmental, economic, and technical indicators for evaluation.
• Employed the entropy weight method and analytic hierarchy process for weighting indicators.
• Compared hydrometallurgical total leaching (Hydro-A), selective lithium extraction (Hydro-B with H2O2/O2), pyrometallurgical (Pyro), and direct regeneration (Direct) processes.

Main Results:

• Comprehensive evaluation values: Hydro-A (0.347), Hydro-B (H2O2) (0.421), Hydro-B (O2) (0.442), Pyro (0.099), Direct (0.857).
• The Direct regeneration process achieved the highest evaluation score.
• The Pyro process had the lowest score, indicating lower overall performance.

Conclusions:

• The Direct regeneration process demonstrates the highest potential for industrialization but needs further technological advancement.
• Hydrometallurgical processes show moderate performance, with selective extraction (Hydro-B) outperforming total leaching (Hydro-A).
• This quantitative evaluation guides the optimization and selection of spent lithium iron phosphate battery recycling strategies.