Lithium Battery Recycling Process & Equipment Guide

With the rise of electric vehicles and energy storage systems, the recycling of lithium batteries is becoming increasingly important. Based on cathode materials, lithium batteries are mainly divided into three categories: lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) used in 3C products, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) widely used in EVs and storage, and nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), also common in EVs.

All types contain valuable materials: copper foil coated with graphite at the anode, aluminum foil coated with lithium compounds at the cathode, and the mixture of graphite and metal oxides known as black mass. Recycling aims to separate these three products. To ensure safety, batteries must first be discharged to below 0.5 volts, typically by soaking in salt water. They are then shredded and crushed, which detaches coating powders from copper and aluminum foils. Due to the size difference, sieves are used: fine black mass (500–600 mesh) passes through, while copper and aluminum (1–3 mm) are retained. Black mass is mainly sold to traders, refiners, and battery material manufacturers, especially in China and Korea. Starting from August 2025, qualified black mass can be directly exported to China, expanding market opportunities.

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