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Lithium battery waste to grow

recycling market – report -
MINING.COM
2-3 minutos

“For the lithium-cobalt-oxide batteries used in the vast majority of

consumer devices, the intrinsic value is relatively high, and
recycling can be profitable from recovering cobalt and copper
alone. Indeed, old consumer electronics could be a significant
source of cobalt in the short-medium term, though hoarding,
collection and distribution challenges make this unlikely,” the report
reads.

“EV batteries on the other hand will be easier to track, collect and
manage. However, the material value in an EV battery, on a $/kg
basis, is lower due to the smaller amounts of cobalt used per kWh
– and manufacturers are aiming to further reduce cobalt content,
and even reduce nickel content further down the line.”

Estimated material value in a 60 kWh battery of different

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Lithium battery waste to grow recycling market – report - MINING.COM about:reader?url=https://www.mining.com/lithium-battery-waste-to-grow...

chemistries based on April 2020 metal prices. (Graph courtesy of

DTechEx Research).

Despite the challenges, IDTechEx has tracked numerous

companies that are now developing and commercializing various
recycling processes, and combinations thereof, to recover more
material from Li-ion cells in order to capture as much value as
possible.

“Ensuring proper end-of-life management, for example via

recycling, and using recycled material can help reduce energy and
material requirements throughout the manufacturing chain and
could help present companies with a marketing advantage,” the
report reads.

In IDTechEx’s view, the opportunities that recycling opens,

particularly in the case of Europe and the United States are not to
be dismissed, because these regions are actively seeking to
develop a domestic supply of critical materials, including those
present in Li-ion batteries.

“While the US is home to some key material resources such as

graphite and lithium, Europe is resource-poor. Recycling, of
manufacturing scrap or end-of-life batteries, could therefore be a
key resource allowing for some diversification of supply.”

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