Battery recycling breakthrough achieves 99.99% lithium recovery
Researchers in China developed a groundbreaking battery recycling method able to recover materials in just 15 minutes.
Published on March 14, 2025
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A new breakthrough in battery recycling has emerged from a team of researchers in China, who have developed an eco-friendly method to recover nearly all valuable materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. This innovative process uses glycine, an amino acid, to extract 99.99% of lithium and significant percentages of nickel, cobalt, and manganese from old batteries in just 15 minutes. Unlike traditional methods, this approach avoids harsh chemicals and minimizes environmental harm, generating effluents suitable for use as fertilizer.
Such advancements are critical in addressing the growing e-waste problem, driven by increasing demand for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. The global lithium-ion battery recycling market was valued at $138.62 million in 2023 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.8% from 2024 to 2030. The implications extend to reducing raw material mining, lowering emissions, and paving the way for sustainable large-scale recycling operations.
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Revolutionary battery recycling process
The groundbreaking method, developed by researchers from Central South University, Guizhou Normal University, and the National Engineering Research Center of Advanced Energy Storage Materials, employs a unique 'battery effect' mechanism. The process achieves remarkable recovery rates: 99.99% of lithium, 96.8% of nickel, 92.35% of cobalt, and 90.59% of manganese, all within just 15 minutes.
What sets this method apart is its use of a neutral solution environment, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals typically associated with battery recycling. Dr. Xing Ou, a professor at Central South University, emphasizes that the process produces minimal harmful gases, and remarkably, the glycine effluent can be repurposed as fertilizer. This advancement comes at a crucial time, as a recent Stanford University study published in Nature Communications confirms that recycling lithium-ion batteries is substantially more environmentally friendly than mining new materials.
Market significance and future applications
The timing of this breakthrough is particularly significant given the mounting challenges of managing e-waste from smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. Traditional recycling methods have often been environmentally problematic due to their byproducts and emissions. This new approach, detailed in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, represents a significant step toward large-scale, pollution-free battery recycling. The process is more environmentally conscious and proves more cost-effective and energy-efficient than conventional methods.
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