SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

中国化学工程学报 ›› 2025, Vol. 86 ›› Issue (10): 45-63.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2025.07.006

• Special Issue on Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology of Tianjin University • 上一篇    下一篇

Electrodialysis and electrolysis for efficient and sustainable recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries

Guangzhong Cao, Kaichen Zhang, Xiao Liu, Shiyi Zhang, Chenxiao Jiang, Tongwen Xu   

  1. Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
  • 收稿日期:2025-03-30 修回日期:2025-07-25 接受日期:2025-07-27 出版日期:2025-10-28 发布日期:2025-08-12
  • 通讯作者: Chenxiao Jiang,E-mail:jcx11@ustc.edu.cn;Tongwen Xu,E-mail:twxu@ustc.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was supported by the National Key Research & Development Program of China (2022YFB3805300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20411), Major Science and Technology Innovation Projects in Shandong Province (2022CXGC020415).

Electrodialysis and electrolysis for efficient and sustainable recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries

Guangzhong Cao, Kaichen Zhang, Xiao Liu, Shiyi Zhang, Chenxiao Jiang, Tongwen Xu   

  1. Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
  • Received:2025-03-30 Revised:2025-07-25 Accepted:2025-07-27 Online:2025-10-28 Published:2025-08-12
  • Contact: Chenxiao Jiang,E-mail:jcx11@ustc.edu.cn;Tongwen Xu,E-mail:twxu@ustc.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Key Research & Development Program of China (2022YFB3805300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20411), Major Science and Technology Innovation Projects in Shandong Province (2022CXGC020415).

摘要: The recycling and resource utilization of high-value metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a critical challenge for achieving sustainable development. While conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling methods dominate the industry, they suffer from significant drawbacks, including high pollution, excessive energy consumption, and suboptimal metal purity. In contrast, electrochemical recycling technology, leveraging electro-driven chemical reactions and selective ion migration, offers a promising alternative by minimizing acid/alkali usage and simplifying recovery processes, thereby enabling greener, more efficient, and energy-saving metal extraction. Based on the structural integrity of cathode materials during recycling, this review categorizes electrochemical approaches into indirect and direct recycling methods. Key aspects such as production purity, ion separation efficiency, and energy consumption in spent LIB recycling are critically examined. Furthermore, this review systematically evaluates electrodialysis and electrolysis techniques, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. Finally, from a green production perspective, we discuss prospects for cost-effective and environmentally benign LIB recycling strategies, providing insights to guide the advancement of sustainable battery recycling technologies.

关键词: Lithium ions battery recycling, Electrodialysis, Electrolysis, Waste treatment, Separation, Membranes

Abstract: The recycling and resource utilization of high-value metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a critical challenge for achieving sustainable development. While conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling methods dominate the industry, they suffer from significant drawbacks, including high pollution, excessive energy consumption, and suboptimal metal purity. In contrast, electrochemical recycling technology, leveraging electro-driven chemical reactions and selective ion migration, offers a promising alternative by minimizing acid/alkali usage and simplifying recovery processes, thereby enabling greener, more efficient, and energy-saving metal extraction. Based on the structural integrity of cathode materials during recycling, this review categorizes electrochemical approaches into indirect and direct recycling methods. Key aspects such as production purity, ion separation efficiency, and energy consumption in spent LIB recycling are critically examined. Furthermore, this review systematically evaluates electrodialysis and electrolysis techniques, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. Finally, from a green production perspective, we discuss prospects for cost-effective and environmentally benign LIB recycling strategies, providing insights to guide the advancement of sustainable battery recycling technologies.

Key words: Lithium ions battery recycling, Electrodialysis, Electrolysis, Waste treatment, Separation, Membranes