IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v361y2024ics0306261924003040.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A techno-economic assessment of two recycling processes for black mass from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries

Author

Listed:
  • Woeste, Richard
  • Drude, Emanuel-Sebastian
  • Vrucak, Dzeneta
  • Klöckner, Kai
  • Rombach, Elinor
  • Letmathe, Peter
  • Friedrich, Bernd

Abstract

Against the background of the growing market share of electric vehicles worldwide, the recycling of used vehicle batteries needs to be further investigated. In this paper, two recycling processes for pyrolyzed black mass from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, a pyrometallurgical route and a hydrometallurgical route with precedent early-stage lithium recovery, are techno-economically evaluated using a total cost of ownership approach. From a technical point of view, this approach thus focuses on maximizing the recycling efficiency achieved by pyrolysis treatment of the battery scrap to pre-separate copper and aluminum. A scenario analysis of the future development of material prices and the market share of cell chemistries is performed to determine the influence of these variables on the profitability of the recycling processes. In general, current trends in cell chemistry pose challenges to profitable LIB recycling. The hydrometallurgical recycling route was found to be less susceptible to price fluctuations and changes in cell chemistry than the pyrometallurgical recycling route and is therefore expected to be more profitable than the pyrometallurgical recycling route when scaled up, especially considering the trend towards decreasing cobalt content in lithium-ion batteries.

Suggested Citation

  • Woeste, Richard & Drude, Emanuel-Sebastian & Vrucak, Dzeneta & Klöckner, Kai & Rombach, Elinor & Letmathe, Peter & Friedrich, Bernd, 2024. "A techno-economic assessment of two recycling processes for black mass from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:361:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924003040
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122921
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924003040
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122921?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard Schmuch & Ralf Wagner & Gerhard Hörpel & Tobias Placke & Martin Winter, 2018. "Performance and cost of materials for lithium-based rechargeable automotive batteries," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 267-278, April.
    2. Gavin Harper & Roberto Sommerville & Emma Kendrick & Laura Driscoll & Peter Slater & Rustam Stolkin & Allan Walton & Paul Christensen & Oliver Heidrich & Simon Lambert & Andrew Abbott & Karl Ryder & L, 2019. "Recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7781), pages 75-86, November.
    3. Lander, Laura & Tagnon, Chris & Nguyen-Tien, Viet & Kendrick, Emma & Elliott, Robert J.R. & Abbott, Andrew P. & Edge, Jacqueline S. & Offer, Gregory J., 2023. "Breaking it down: A techno-economic assessment of the impact of battery pack design on disassembly costs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    4. Degraeve, Zeger & Labro, Eva & Roodhooft, Filip, 2000. "An evaluation of vendor selection models from a total cost of ownership perspective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 34-58, August.
    5. Yu Miao & Patrick Hynan & Annette von Jouanne & Alexandre Yokochi, 2019. "Current Li-Ion Battery Technologies in Electric Vehicles and Opportunities for Advancements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-20, March.
    6. Christian M. Julien & Alain Mauger, 2020. "NCA, NCM811, and the Route to Ni-Richer Lithium-Ion Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-46, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. James T. Frith & Matthew J. Lacey & Ulderico Ulissi, 2023. "A non-academic perspective on the future of lithium-based batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Gutsch, Moritz & Leker, Jens, 2024. "Costs, carbon footprint, and environmental impacts of lithium-ion batteries – From cathode active material synthesis to cell manufacturing and recycling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PB).
    3. Wang, Mengmeng & Liu, Kang & Dutta, Shanta & Alessi, Daniel S. & Rinklebe, Jörg & Ok, Yong Sik & Tsang, Daniel C.W., 2022. "Recycling of lithium iron phosphate batteries: Status, technologies, challenges, and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    4. Tang, Chen & Sprecher, Benjamin & Tukker, Arnold & Mogollón, José M., 2021. "The impact of climate policy implementation on lithium, cobalt and nickel demand: The case of the Dutch automotive sector up to 2040," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Kwiyong Kim & Darien Raymond & Riccardo Candeago & Xiao Su, 2021. "Selective cobalt and nickel electrodeposition for lithium-ion battery recycling through integrated electrolyte and interface control," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Jingzhao Zhang & Yanan Wang & Benben Jiang & Haowei He & Shaobo Huang & Chen Wang & Yang Zhang & Xuebing Han & Dongxu Guo & Guannan He & Minggao Ouyang, 2023. "Realistic fault detection of li-ion battery via dynamical deep learning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Vongdala Noudeng & Nguyen Van Quan & Tran Dang Xuan, 2022. "A Future Perspective on Waste Management of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles in Lao PDR: Current Status and Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, December.
    8. Dae-Seon Hong & Yeon-Ji Choi & Chang-Su Jin & Kyoung-Hee Shin & Woo-Jin Song & Sun-Hwa Yeon, 2023. "Enhanced Cycle Performance of NiCo 2 O 4 /CNTs Composites in Lithium-Air Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Yücel, Eda & Karaesmen, Fikri & Salman, F. Sibel & Türkay, Metin, 2009. "Optimizing product assortment under customer-driven demand substitution," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(3), pages 759-768, December.
    10. Desreveaux, A. & Bouscayrol, A. & Trigui, R. & Hittinger, E. & Castex, E. & Sirbu, G.M., 2023. "Accurate energy consumption for comparison of climate change impact of thermal and electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    11. Schneider, Christian O. & Bremen, Philipp & Schönsleben, Paul & Alard, Robert, 2013. "Transaction cost economics in global sourcing: Assessing regional differences and implications for performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(1), pages 243-254.
    12. Held, Marcel & Tuchschmid, Martin & Zennegg, Markus & Figi, Renato & Schreiner, Claudia & Mellert, Lars Derek & Welte, Urs & Kompatscher, Michael & Hermann, Michael & Nachef, Léa, 2022. "Thermal runaway and fire of electric vehicle lithium-ion battery and contamination of infrastructure facility," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    13. Anisa Surya Wijareni & Hendri Widiyandari & Agus Purwanto & Aditya Farhan Arif & Mohammad Zaki Mubarok, 2022. "Morphology and Particle Size of a Synthesized NMC 811 Cathode Precursor with Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate and Nickel Sulfate as Nickel Sources and Comparison of Their Electrochemical Performances in an," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Alexandru Ciocan & Cosmin Ungureanu & Alin Chitu & Elena Carcadea & George Darie, 2020. "Electrical Longboard for Everyday Urban Commuting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-14, September.
    15. Entwistle, Jake & Ge, Ruihuan & Pardikar, Kunal & Smith, Rachel & Cumming, Denis, 2022. "Carbon binder domain networks and electrical conductivity in lithium-ion battery electrodes: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    16. Piotr Krawczyk & Anna Śliwińska, 2020. "Eco-Efficiency Assessment of the Application of Large-Scale Rechargeable Batteries in a Coal-Fired Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Shahjalal, Mohammad & Roy, Probir Kumar & Shams, Tamanna & Fly, Ashley & Chowdhury, Jahedul Islam & Ahmed, Md. Rishad & Liu, Kailong, 2022. "A review on second-life of Li-ion batteries: prospects, challenges, and issues," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    18. Hsieh, I-Yun Lisa & Pan, Menghsuan Sam & Green, William H., 2020. "Transition to electric vehicles in China: Implications for private motorization rate and battery market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    19. Fatmawati Fatmawati & Nuryanti Mustari & Haerana Haerana & Risma Niswaty & Abdillah Abdillah, 2022. "Waste Bank Policy Implementation through Collaborative Approach: Comparative Study—Makassar and Bantaeng, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    20. Crama, Y. & Pascual J., R. & Torres, A., 2004. "Optimal procurement decisions in the presence of total quantity discounts and alternative product recipes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(2), pages 364-378, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:361:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924003040. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.